Milwaukee Bucks logo outside Fiserv Forum. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) — The Lillard and Giannis era is over in Milwaukee.
The Bucks are releasing Damian Lillard less than two years after the team acquired him in a blockbuster deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland along with a 2029 first-round draft pick. Lillard, 34, is owed $113 million, which the Bucks will defer over the next five seasons.
The deal will allow Milwaukee to sign free agent Center Myles Turner, who spent the last ten seasons with the Indiana Pacers. The Texas native has averaged just over 14 points per game and was the longest-tenured member of the Pacers, who eliminated the Bucks in this year’s playoffs before falling to Oklahoma City in the Finals.
Turner had a desire to stay in Indianapolis, but the two sides failed to reach a deal.
Lillard suffered a torn achilles during the playoff series with the Pacers, an injury that is expected to sideline him for much of the 2025-26 regular season.
Later in the morning, the team worked out a deal with the Charlotte Hornets involving Pat Connaughton. Milwaukee sends the Guard to the Queen City in exchange for Vasilije Micic. The Yugoslavian national split time with Phoenix and Charlotte last year, averaging 6.6 points and just under 20 minutes per game.
Milwaukee is also sending Charlotte a pair of second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032.
The Bucks also made several other free-agent deals with their own players. Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, and Kevin Porter Jr. will all be back next season on new contracts.
Brook Lopez, a key player in the team’s 2021 Championship season, will not be back next year after signing with the LA Clippers.
Comments