The Milwaukee Bucks stunned the basketball world this week with a decision that's already being called the most expensive panic move in NBA history: Damian Lillard has been waived. In a bid to create cap space, the Bucks stretched Lillard's $113 million contract across five years, freeing up just enough money to sign centre Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal.
It's a staggering pivot. Milwaukee has essentially chosen an injury-prone, playoff-inconsistent big man over a future Hall of Fame point guard, one who, despite a torn Achilles, still averaged nearly 25 points and 7 assists per game. And while the Bucks may think they've upgraded their defence and floor spacing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, many around the league believe they've only deepened their long-term problems with Turner's bloated deal, as told by The Ringer.
@houseofhighlights END OF THE DAME ERA IN MILWAUKEE 👀 (per shams/x) #nba #basketball #dame #damianlillard #bucks
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Giannis Placated, But at What Cost?
The Bucks' gamble is clearly about keeping Giannis happy. After three straight first-round playoff exits and a disjointed season plagued by injuries, pressure was mounting in Milwaukee. Rather than running it back with an ageing, injured Lillard and limited options, the Bucks forced the issue, stretching the star's contract and locking in Turner as a long-term partner to their MVP.
On paper, Turner replicates Brook Lopez's role as a rim-protecting big who can stretch the floor. But the numbers aren't as convincing as the boardroom logic. Turner struggled in the Finals and lacks the creative spark Lillard brought; his offence shrivels without a true playmaker like Tyrese Haliburton, and Milwaukee has no one of that ilk anymore, as highlighted by ESPN.
"[Damian Lillard] is ecstatic. His agent told me this is an incredible opportunity for him. He gets to be a free agent two years early."@MarcJSpears shares Dame's reaction after being waived from the Bucks 🏀 pic.twitter.com/tieAoWNacj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2025
Lillard's Power Move — From Stretched to Strategic
But while the Bucks stretch their budget and their logic, Dame finds himself in a unique position. Damian Lillard waived doesn't mean discarded, it means financially liberated. Now being paid $22.5 million annually for the next five years not to play in Milwaukee, Lillard can choose his next team without the weight of his old contract.
He's already being called the 'luckiest free agent in NBA history', and it's not hard to see why. Rehab his Achilles in peace, take a minimum deal with a title contender, or even pull a Darren Waller and take a season off.
In short, Dame's got options.
The Eastern Conference, from Cleveland to Orlando, is watching closely; any team that signs him, even on a low deal, instantly changes the balance of power as The Ringer outlines.
The New East and the Long-Term Fallout
For now, the Bucks appear to have sacrificed future flexibility for short-term appeasement. They're left with a bloated payroll, no true point guard, and a Myles Turner-sized question mark at centre. Rivals, from the New York Knicks to the Atlanta Hawks, smell opportunity.
Let's not even mention how the Pacers, who lost Turner but dodged the tax, could pivot toward a strategic rebuild with Tyrese Haliburton out injured.
Giannis may still dominate, but with no Lillard to draw defences and carry the offensive load, the burden will be heavier than ever. And if results don't follow, questions about his own future will rise again.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard waived may end up the headline that quietly shifts the league's power structure, transforming a desperate exit into a masterclass in player leverage.
