NBA star Damian Lillard’s tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks has stunningly come to an end.
The 34-year-old Lillard is currently an NBA free agent.
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On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the shocking news that the Milwaukee Bucks decided to waive Lillard and stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract to sign free agent Myles Turner.
The report added that Turner agreed with the Bucks on a four-year, $107 million deal that has a player option for the fourth year in 2028-29.
Lillard’s final season in Milwaukee saw him suffer a torn Achilles tendon.
He underwent surgery in early May.
The nine-time All-Star welcomed the release and will receive all of the $113 million owed.
Lillard will likely miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season.
During his two campaigns with the Bucks, he averaged 24.6 points on 43.4 percent shooting and 36.4 percent from three-point range.
Lillard likely won’t come close to the $56.3 million average salary he earned from his last contract.
He’s coming off a brutal Achilles injury.
And Lillard’s defense, which wasn’t a plus to begin with, has shown to have gotten worse in recent years.
The 6-foot-2 guard also turns 35 later this month.
Lillard will likely be connected with the Miami Heat, who were his preferred landing spot when he requested a trade from the Portland Trailblazers in 2023.
The Heat have tried to add a star this summer and struck out on adding Kevin Durant last week.
Miami and other teams could try to sign Lillard with an eye on the 2026-27 campaign at a lower salary since he’ll be receiving his pay from the Bucks for the next five years.
The Bucks will get a player in Turner, who helped the Indiana Pacers reach the NBA Finals, where they were defeated in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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This past season, Turner shot a career-best 39.6 percent from three and averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
However, Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was “not pleased” by the Bucks’ decision to waive Lillard, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Antetokounmpo’s own future with the Bucks is not certain as ESPN reported in May that he was “open-minded” about joining another team for the first time in his NBA career.
The two-time NBA MVP is currently signed for at least two more seasons with a player option for the 2027-27 season.
