While the Milwaukee Bucks obviously liked the idea of clearing cap space to sign Myles Turner by waiving Damian Lillard, many around the game seem to believe it was a silly decision.
On Tuesday, the Bucks stunned the basketball world when they came to terms on a $107 million contract with Indiana Pacers great Turner. Heading into the summer, Milwaukee was expected to lose talent and cut payroll. Not add to it, especially by that much. However, to make room for the center on their books, the team surprisingly waived future Hall-of-Famer Lillard.
In the agreement, Milwaukee will owe the NBA legend just over $22 million annually over the next five years. It is a very big risk for a player who’s never even been an All-Star. And it is a decision that executives around the league believe was a very bad one.
Related: ‘Didn’t like how it was handled’: Giannis incredibly unhappy Bucks waived Damian Lillard
“Reckless,” one executive told to ESPN NBA insiders Tim Bontemps and Jamal Collier when asked for his opinion on waiving Lillard.
“That’s a move you talk yourself into in the boardroom in July. When you have nowhere else to go,” another exec told ESPN, “and you turn a bad situation into a worse one. They’re going to look at this in two years and say, ‘What did we do?'”
Myles Turner stats (2024-25): 15.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 BPG, 40% 3PT
Milwaukee Bucks gave big money to a younger version of Brook Lopez?
milwaukee bucks
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
To add a sizable contract, plus lock themselves into a $22 million yearly bill for the next five says a lot about how the Bucks feel about Turner. The big man has been a very competent starting center in the NBA for a decade. And he played a key role in Indiana’s back-to-back trips to the East Finals and the NBA Finals this year.
To Bucks brass, they are adding a player who should make them a title contender in 2025-26. However, Bontemps and Collier suggest all Milwaukee did was sign a younger version of a player they already had.
Myles Turner contract: Four years, $107 million
“Turner played a huge role in Indiana’s run to the Finals, giving the Pacers the coveted combination of rim protection and 3-point shooting from a 7-footer. But Lopez did the same thing for Milwaukee over the past several years,” the insiders wrote. “Which is why he was such a perfect fit to play alongside [Giannis] Antetokounmpo in the Bucks’ frontcourt.
“Turner is eight years younger than Lopez, but their numbers last season were virtually identical. And Turner is now making three times as much money — and that’s before you factor in the more than $22 million in roster charges that will now be on Milwaukee’s books over the next five seasons because of the decision to waive and stretch Lillard’s deal,” they added.
Related: Damian Lillard shockingly hits NBA free agency: 5 potential landings spots, including the Heat and Suns
After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos