Bucks Shock NBA World by Waiving Damian Lillard to Sign Myles Turner
Wow. Just when you think the NBA offseason couldn’t get any crazier, the Milwaukee Bucks dropped one of the biggest bombshells in recent memory. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it—Damian Lillard has officially been waived by the Bucks. Yeah, you heard that right. Dame is out in Milwaukee.
So here’s what’s going down. According to multiple reports, including ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are waiving Lillard to stretch out the $113 million remaining on his contract over the next five years. That means they’ll be paying him $22.5 million a year through 2030. It’s now the largest waive-and-stretch deal in NBA history. And all of this? It’s being done so the Bucks can bring in free-agent center Myles Turner, who just signed a 4-year, $107 million deal with Milwaukee.
Now let’s pause for a second. Damian Lillard is not just any player. We’re talking about a seven-time All-NBA guard, one of the most clutch scorers in league history, and someone the Bucks only acquired in a blockbuster trade in 2023. That deal sent out Jrue Holiday and brought Lillard in as the supposed final piece next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Fast forward to now, and it’s already over.
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To be fair, Lillard did tear his Achilles in the first round of the playoffs against Indiana, and he’s expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season. That made the Bucks’ front office reevaluate, especially after Brook Lopez left for the Clippers. So they made the call: stretch Dame's contract and bring in Myles Turner, one of the top free-agent bigs on the market.
Turner is no slouch. He averaged over 15 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks last season while shooting nearly 40% from three. He’s a modern big man who can protect the rim and space the floor—an ideal fit next to Giannis. But even with all that, this is still a massive move with major ripple effects.
Reportedly, Giannis isn’t happy with how this all went down. And honestly, who can blame him? He finally had another superstar next to him, and now that partnership is being cut short before it ever really had a chance to take off. Injuries derailed their potential, and now Milwaukee is betting big on a retooled roster to give Giannis another shot at a title.
What happens next for Lillard is a huge question. He turns 35 this month, and while he’ll still be getting paid by the Bucks, he’s now a free agent. One team to watch? The Miami Heat. Remember, that was Dame’s preferred destination when he asked out of Portland. Don’t be surprised if Pat Riley tries to make a move now, especially at a reduced price.
In the end, this is the kind of high-stakes gamble that defines eras for franchises. It might work, or it might backfire completely. Either way, the Damian Lillard chapter in Milwaukee ends not with a championship, but with a stunning release and an uncertain future.
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