MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts from the court ... More after an apparent injury during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on April 27, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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In a series of moves aimed at getting back to the NBA Finals with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks have made a couple of dramatic statements.
The Bucks have signed former Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal, along with a player option for 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The franchise also waived [Damian Lillard](https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2025/04/28/milwaukee-bucks-star-damian-lillard-feared-to-have-achilles-tear/), stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Turner, per Charania. Lillard was expected to miss much or all of the 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles during the playoffs.
Still, Chris Haynes reported Giannis is “not pleased” with the move to part ways with the 34-year-old Lillard, a nine-time All-Star.
The Bucks are in a position where they need to make moves so that Giannis feels the team can compete in an Eastern Conference that now appears more wide open after Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.
If Giannis deems the team is not competitive enough as NBA training camp approaches, he could ask for a trade. Teams like the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets have either saved enough assets or held off on other big deals in case Giannis becomes available.