NBA Trade Report: The Milwaukee Bucks have waived guard Damian Lillard to make way for Myles Turner

The Milwaukee Bucks are making drastic moves this offseason and have shocked the basketball world with reports that they are set to waive star guard Damian Lillard to clear enough cap space to sign Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner.

The development was first reported by ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, who broke the news on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

“The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner. Lillard’s two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon,” Charania posted.

The Bucks found a creative path to waive and stretch Lillard – whose $113M will be stretched over the next five seasons – while leaving their future draft assets untouched. In a stunning turn of events, Myles Turner departs the Pacers to join the Bucks. https://t.co/2QL87xyK3d

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

“The Bucks found a creative path to waive and stretch Lillard—whose $113 million will be spread over the next five seasons—while leaving their future draft assets untouched. In a stunning turn of events, Myles Turner departs the Pacers to join the Bucks,” he added.

Many believe the Bucks’ front office made the decision because Lillard is expected to miss the majority of the 2025–26 NBA season due to injury. Stretching his contract allows the franchise to absorb the cap hit gradually—distributing the remaining $113 million as dead money across five seasons.

The move also appears to be part of general manager Jon Horst’s long-term strategy to retain franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo. Acquiring a player of Turner’s caliber bolsters their frontcourt significantly. The 28-year-old center spent a decade with the Pacers after being drafted 11th overall in 2015 and holds career averages of 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game—while shooting 39.2% from three on 5.2 attempts per game.

As for Lillard, his two-year stint in Milwaukee ends without a championship. Despite averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists last season, he was unable to push the Bucks deep into the playoffs.

Drafted sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, Lillard spent 11 seasons in Portland before being traded to Milwaukee in a multi-team deal on September 27, 2023. Widely regarded as one of the top guards in the NBA, Lillard is the 2013 Rookie of the Year, a nine-time NBA All-Star, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game MVP, a two-time Three-Point Contest champion, and the all-time leading scorer for the Trail Blazers. He also helped Milwaukee win the inaugural 2024 NBA Cup.

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