In an unexpected decision on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks waived nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard to clear salary cap space and sign veteran center Myles Turner. Turner, who has spent his entire career with the Indiana Pacers since 2015, agreed to a significant contract with the Bucks following the move.
Turner has signed a four-year deal worth $107 million, reportedly including a player option for the 2028-29 season and a 15% trade kicker. To manage Lillard’s remaining contract, the Bucks opted to stretch the $112.5 million owed to Lillard over five years, resulting in annual payments of approximately $22.5 million until the 2029-30 season.
Insights on Bucks’ Decision and Team Prospects Post-Lillard
NBA analyst Ramona Shelburne shared her perspective during a special NBA Today episode focused on Free Agency. When asked whether the Bucks had improved compared to their healthy roster from last season, she was firm in her response:
They are going to miss Dame,
—Ramona Shelburne, Senior Writer and NBA Analyst
Marc Spears, a respected basketball reporter and panelist alongside Shelburne, also weighed in by expressing a cautious outlook on the Bucks’ chemistry moving forward:
I’ll wait and see. I feel they’re still working on their chemistry. They (Bucks) could end up regretting it if he’s (Lillard) back sooner than expected. That’s the thing I am keeping an eye on.
—Marc Spears, Basketball Reporter
This conversation highlighted lingering doubts about whether the addition of Turner compensates for the loss of Lillard’s talent and leadership.
Player Performance Comparison Between Lillard and Turner
During the 2024-25 NBA season, Damian Lillard appeared in 58 games and posted averages of 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, securing another All-Star selection. However, his season was hindered by a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis late in the year. Though he returned for the playoffs, his performance suffered, averaging only 7.0 points and 4.7 assists across three postseason games.
Myles Turner, by contrast, played 72 games for the Pacers last season and averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. Turner was a key performer during Indiana’s unexpected run to the NBA Finals, contributing averages of 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 23 playoff games. Known for his defensive presence, Turner has led the league in blocks twice, during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.
Despite Turner’s solid defensive capabilities and playoff contributions, he has never earned an All-Star selection or All-NBA team honors. Lillard’s career accolades include seven All-NBA teams and being named among the NBA’s 75 greatest players on the league’s anniversary team.
Future Implications and Lillard’s Next Steps
A report by Sam Amick from The Athletic revealed that Lillard was reportedly pleased with the Bucks’ decision to waive him, as it allows him to enter free agency sooner than anticipated. According to analyst Bjorn Bergstrom, Lillard could explore options with several teams, including the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, or a return to the Portland Trailblazers.
This latest development leaves the Bucks at a crossroads, as management bets on Turner’s defense and potential fit with the roster, while observers and analysts remain uncertain if the team will maintain its competitive edge without Lillard’s scoring and leadership. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how Milwaukee’s roster chemistry evolves and if the gamble pays off during the coming seasons.