OG Anunoby pranked Damian Lillard with 'welcome to Toronto' text

For a minute, Damian Lillard thought he was a Toronto Raptor.

He has OG Anunoby to thank for that.

Lillard spoke with Turner Sports' Chris Haynes this week from Milwaukee Bucks media day, just days after being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers. He recounted the tale of what appears to have been an anxiety-inducing text he received from the Raptors forward.

Lillard, of course, was not traded to the Raptors. He's instead joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, concluding his 11-year career in Portland and trade speculation that dominated the NBA offseason.

Haynes said he was on the phone with Lillard when this all went down. It's pretty clear Lillard was not pleased to hear the fake news. Haynes described Lillard's reaction to the text as "nervous" before yielding the floor to Lillard to tell the story.

This all came on the heels of a report the Raptors had emerged as surprise favorites to land Lillard. Lillard's camp, meanwhile, had indicated all summer he was only interested in joining the Miami Heat. He didn't land in Miami, but Lillard appears more than pleased to have joined a Bucks team that's on the short list of championship favorites.

A trade to Toronto probably wouldn't have produced the same reaction from Lillard, who asked out of Portland when it became clear the Trail Blazers were building for the future instead of competing for a title. The Raptors, who finished 41-41 last season and failed to advance beyond the play-in, aren't expected to compete for a championship anytime soon. Anunoby knows this.

"He always play like that," Lillard said, while shaking his head.