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The Bucks are pulling out all the stops in an effort to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy—though, with their roster limitations, that may be easier said than done.
Despite having limited cap flexibility entering the offseason, Milwaukee agreed to a four-year, $107 million contract with Myles Turner, the Pacers center fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
In order to make room for Turner, the Bucks are waiving nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who had two years, $112.6 million remaining on his deal, but was expected to miss most or all of next season with a torn Achilles tendon.
The Bucks are using the stretch provision on Lillard, meaning they will pay out his contract over five years. Lillard’s deal will take up about $22.5 million of the Bucks’ cap space until the 2029–30 season. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, it’s the largest use of the stretch provision in league history.
In May, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo was “open-minded” about leaving the Bucks weeks after the team was eliminated by the Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It was the third year in a row that Milwaukee was unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee appeared to be tearing down its core that won the 2021 championship after trading Jrue Holiday to the Celtics in 2023, Khris Middleton to the Wizards in February, and allowing Brook Lopez to sign with the Clippers on Monday. All three players were on the wrong side of 30.
The decision to sign the 29-year-old Turner and waive Lillard appears to be a last-ditch effort by the Bucks to build a contender around Antetokounmpo. Ironically, the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard two years ago in an attempt to retool around the Greek star, but injuries to Lillard and Middleton limited their ceiling.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Antetokounmpo is “not pleased” with the Bucks’ decision to waive Lillard. However, Charania reported that Turner and Antetokounmpo “valued the opportunity to partner together.”
Haliburton’s Injury Lingers
These moves are a trickle-down effect of Tyrese Haliburton’s unfortunate Achilles tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals just two weeks ago.
The Pacers were reportedly prepared to re-sign Turner and go into the luxury tax for the first time in two decades. However, according to Charania, Indiana’s “aversion to the luxury tax” grew after Haliburton’s Achilles tear, which, like Lillard’s, may keep him out for the entire 2025–26 season.
Turner reportedly wanted to stay in Indiana, but according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Indiana’s offers didn’t exceed the range of three years, $60 million. That would be an average salary of $20 million, which is $6.75 million less than what he will receive in Milwaukee.
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