Damian Lillard signed with the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, but he didn’t do so until the end of the offseason. Because of this, the seven-time All-NBA guard missed out on working out with his new superstar teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo throughout the offseason.Giannis Antetokounmpo’s strategy for the next summer with Damian Lillard debunks trade rumorsSomething will change, though, this summer. With a few months to prepare, Dame and Giannis will hopefully have a considerably better second season together.As soon as Antetokounmpo recovers from his injury, he plans to do this, according to him.Antetokounmpo appears to have his summer schedule sorted out in advance. First things first: getting back on his feet after suffering a calf injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the Bucks’ brief playoff run. The former two-time MVP intends to jet over to Portland the moment he feels ready:According to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Antetokounmpo stated, “After I’m done with my rehab in a few weeks, I’ll probably go down to Portland and spend time with Dame.” This was in reference to his early offseason intentions.

“That’s pretty much it. Go work out together, talk, sit down, just spend time. It doesn’t have to be basketball. Just spend time together. I’ve done it with Khris in 11 years. I’ve done it with Brook. It’s just what you gotta do. Spend time with Coach Doc talking about basketball, talking about strategy, things we can do better as a team.”

It may be about more than just basketball, as Antetokounmpo pointed out. These two will, of course, spend a lot of time together working out in the gym. Nevertheless, Giannis’ primary goal in visiting Portland is to establish a connection with Lillard:

“Just spending time together, getting to know one another, get accustomed together as we move forward,” Antetokounmpo said of the goal of that time.

“That’s going to be the most important thing because we know when it comes back, we are going to spend six, seven, eight months together. But how can we do that, how can the team come together, how can me and Dame, me and Doc, me and Khris – ‘cause I see these guys, I’m tired of seeing these guys – with everybody come closer. Kind of start earlier.”

We saw a lot of potential in Giannis and Lillard’s rookie season together in Milwaukee. When these two superstars have spent an entire offseason working together, just think of all the magic that could happen.