The Milwaukee Bucks have waived guard Damian Lillard and will stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract. This strategic move facilitates the acquisition of free agent center Myles Turner.
Turner has reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the Bucks valued at $107 million. The agreement includes a player option for the fourth year (2028-29) and features a full 15% trade kicker.
Lillard`s two-season tenure in Milwaukee comes to an end as the seven-time All-NBA selection continues to rehabilitate from surgery in early May for a torn Achilles tendon.
Lillard welcomed being waived on Tuesday. This decision ensures he receives the full $113 million owed, allows him to rehab in Portland close to his family, and provides him the freedom to choose his next team without immediate pressure.
By waiving Lillard before the August 29 deadline, the Bucks can utilize the NBA`s `stretch provision,` preserving their future draft assets. For salary cap purposes, his remaining two years of salary will be spread over five years, resulting in an annual cap hit of $22.5 million. The stretched salary amount cannot exceed 15% of the current salary cap, which stands at $23.197 million.
Turner had been the longest-tenured player for the Indiana Pacers, having spent 10 seasons with the franchise. He had expressed a desire to remain in Indiana, and his representatives reportedly pushed for a new deal following the Pacers` Game 7 exit in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Indiana`s reported reluctance to enter luxury tax territory, a consideration heightened after star guard Tyrese Haliburton`s Achilles injury in the Finals, ultimately cleared the path for the Bucks to acquire the big man.
The 29-year-old Turner was a significant contributor to the Pacers` success. The 6-foot-11 center is known for his ability to space the floor and provide rim protection. This past season, he achieved a career-high 3-point shooting percentage of 39.6%, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and a team-leading 2.0 blocks per game. During the Pacers` playoff run, he set a team record with 46 blocks.
Turner is notably one of only three players in NBA history to accumulate at least 700 successful 3-pointers and 1,400 blocks, joining Brook Lopez and Rasheed Wallace in this exclusive group.
In what was a relatively quiet start to free agency, Bucks general manager Jon Horst, in partnership with CAA co-head of basketball Austin Brown, orchestrated this complex and significant transaction. The move is aimed at reshaping the Milwaukee roster and allowing the franchise to aggressively retool around cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In a separate transaction on Tuesday, Milwaukee traded guard Pat Connaughton and two second-round draft picks (2031 and 2032) to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guard Vasilije Micic. Last season, Connaughton averaged 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds. Micic averaged 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists for the Hornets.
Additionally, the Bucks have agreed to a two-year contract to re-sign free agent Jericho Sims. This deal includes a player option for the second season. Sims, a big man known for his ability to finish lobs, appeared in a career-high 53 regular-season games and all five playoff games last season.
Other notable offseason moves for the Bucks include reaching agreements to re-sign Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter Jr. Conversely, the team lost Brook Lopez, who signed with the LA Clippers.
The Bucks also reached a two-year agreement with free agent forward Gary Harris, featuring a player option for the second year. Harris, a veteran wing, has played key rotation roles for playoff teams in Denver and Orlando. Last season with the Magic, he averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds.
Milwaukee had previously shown interest in Turner but faced salary cap limitations that prevented his acquisition. Horst and Brown reportedly worked together on Monday and Tuesday to structure the necessary financial maneuvers.
During the process, both Turner and Antetokounmpo reportedly valued the opportunity to play alongside each other on the court.
This marks another significant move by Milwaukee`s front office, particularly as uncertainty continues regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo`s long-term future with the team and whether he views Milwaukee as his ideal fit moving forward.
This move aligns with a pattern of aggressive roster building under Jon Horst. In 2020, he acquired Jrue Holiday via a major trade. In 2023, the Bucks similarly brought in Damian Lillard through a three-team deal. The acquisition of Turner demonstrates a continued commitment to constructing a championship contender in the Eastern Conference around Giannis Antetokounmpo in his prime, while also potentially weakening a divisional or conference rival.
Lillard, who will turn 35 on July 15, became a key leader for the team alongside Antetokounmpo during his two seasons. He played 58 games in his second year and earned his ninth All-Star selection. He demonstrated improved efficiency this past season, ranking 10th in the NBA in both scoring (24.9 points per game) and assists (7.1 assists per game) while shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range.
He sustained the Achilles injury and was helped off the court during the first quarter of the Bucks` Game 4 loss to the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.
Prior to joining the Bucks, Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, earning seven All-Star and seven All-NBA selections. He led Portland to the playoffs eight times, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19. He holds franchise records for points and 3-pointers made, and ranks second in assists.
