Bucks dump Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner

The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard and signing free-agent center Myles Turner, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The decision did not sit well with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.

The Bucks are stretching the remaining $113 million on Lillard's contract over the next five seasons, per the report, using the "stretch and release" provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Lillard is currently recovering from surgery in May to repair a torn Achilles tendon.

Antetokounmpo has been mentioned as a trade candidate this offseason. Among teams with reported interest in a deal should the Bucks part with the two-time MVP are the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks. Antetokounmpo has spent all 12 of his NBA seasons in Milwaukee.

Turner has spent his entire 10-year career with the Indiana Pacers. He agreed to a four-year, $107 million contract with Milwaukee, per ESPN. The deal reportedly includes a player option in the final season in 2028-29 and a 15% trade kicker, a bonus paid to Turner in the event he's traded.

Turner, 29, helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals this season, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. He averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 72 starts in the regular season, and 13.8 points, 4.8 boards and 2.0 blocks in 23 starts in the postseason.

Damian Lillard, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on July 15, is now facing a difficult road to recovery following a significant Achilles injury. The rehabilitation process required for such an injury is both long and demanding, especially for a player of his age hoping to regain elite-level performance. While the Milwaukee Bucks have yet to provide an official timeline for his return, early expectations suggest that Lillard could miss a substantial portion of the 2025–26 NBA season — and there's a real possibility he might not play at all during that campaign.

The injury occurred during Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers on April 27, a game the Bucks lost 129–103. Lillard suffered the injury in the opening quarter. His postseason availability had already been limited — he missed the first game of the series and was sidelined for the final 14 games of the regular season due to a blood clot in his calf, an issue that had previously raised concerns about his overall health heading into the playoffs.

In his second season wearing a Bucks jersey, Lillard played in 58 games, averaging an impressive 24.9 points per game along with 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Prior to joining Milwaukee, he spent 11 seasons as the cornerstone of the Portland Trail Blazers, where he became a fan favorite and one of the most prolific scorers in franchise history.

Over the course of his 900-game NBA career, Lillard has established himself one of the league’s premier offensive talents. He holds career averages of 25.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. His long-range shooting has been particularly notable — with 2,804 made three-pointers, Lillard ranks fourth all-time in NBA history for total threes made, trailing only some of the game’s greatest shooters.

On other side of this major roster shake-up, Myles Turner departs the Indiana Pacers as a defensive anchor and long-time team leader. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in Indiana, holding the franchise record for the most blocked shots with 1,412. Turner also ranks sixth in total games played for the Pacers (642) and ninth in total rebounds (4,349), underscoring his durability and impact over the years. Now, as he joins Milwaukee, Turner brings a strong defensive presence and shot-blocking ability that the Bucks hope will reshape their identity on the court — particularly in the absence of Lillard.