Who wins here? Bucks let Lillard go, sign Turner to $107 million mega-contract
The NBA market is in full swing, with the Bucks letting Lillard go.
In what is the biggest shock of the NBA free agency so far, Damian Lillard has been let go from the Milwaukee Bucks in a sensational move that has seen the side sign Indiana Pacers hero, Myles Turner.
In the first surprise of the day, the Bucks announced that they had taken on the contract of Turner, who leaves the NBA Finals finalists; Lillard’s waived contract decision was made public just minutes later in the largest deal of its kind ever.
The 34-year-old guard is still playing under the extension he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022, which is worth $113 million. Before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2023, Lillard spent 11 seasons with Portland. On the other side of the coin sits Myles Turner, who is on a four-year, $107 million contract that features a player option for the 2028–29 season, along with a 15% trade kicker.
The Bucks will owe Damian Lillard over $22M a year for the next five years.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 1, 2025
That will count towards their cap space for the next FIVE years.
Madness. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ovPN7b8RHy
What contracts are Damian Lillard and Myles Turner on?
In the 2024–25 NBA season, Damian Lillard delivered another strong performance in his first full year with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over 58 games.
Turner, meanwhile, shone as a two-way center for the Indiana Pacers on their charge to the NBA finals, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game across 72 regular-season appearances.
Just in: The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner, sources tell ESPN. Lillard's two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon. pic.twitter.com/eg1D1TMFM6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
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It’s a huge move from the Bucks who are putting down all their chips for the upcoming season, with just one question remaining: will it pay off?
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