Bucks sign Myles Turner to four-year deal, waive Damian Lillard

Bucks sign Myles Turner to four-year deal, waive Damian Lillard

The Milwaukee Bucks poached Myles Turner away from the Indiana Pacers on a four-year, $107 million deal. But wait, there’s more!

The Bucks needed to clear over $30 million in cap space to sign Turner to this aforementioned contract. They did so by waiving-and-stretching Damian Lillard, who was owed $113 million over the next two seasons, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Tuesday.

Turner, the longest tenured Pacer, made it known he wished to remain in Indiana. Since the Game 7 exit, Turner’s reps pushed to get a deal done. Ultimately, Indiana’s aversion to the tax, which grew after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, allowed Bucks to get the new franchise center. https://t.co/lZqZudrUWg

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

Just in: The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner, sources tell ESPN. Lillard's two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon. pic.twitter.com/eg1D1TMFM6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

I don’t think anyone had this on their bingo card.

Since Milwaukee is electing to stretch Lillard, he will be on their books for $22.5 million over the next five seasons. According to capologist Yossi Gozlan, the Bucks still need to clear $5 million in salary before they can bring in Turner at his aforementioned price tag.

Correction: Bucks get to $20 million in cap space while doing all this.

They still need to clear a bit more in a trade to get to $24.9 million, the lowest they can give Myles Turner on four years, $107 million. https://t.co/sWP3wqI0EN

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) July 1, 2025

According to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Pacers never offered more than $20 million for Myles Turner, despite having previously stated that they would enter the luxury tax for the first time in two decades for him.

I am told the Pacers never offered Turner more than $20M in AAV.

This is a shocking decision by the Pacers to let Turner walk. https://t.co/pnqZM47qcx

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) July 1, 2025

Now, the Bucks will be allocating nearly $50 million per year for both Turner and Lillard to be on their books. In fact, assuming Turner’s contract is a flat $107 million (numbers can slightly change between now and when the deal becomes official), the Bucks owe Lillard and Turner approximately:

• $47.4 million in ’25-26
• $48.6 million in ’26-27
• $49.9 million in ’27-28
• $51.1 million in ’28-29

That’s a lot of change for just one player of Turner’s caliber. He’s one of the better stretch bigs in the NBA and a clear upgrade over Brook Lopez, but I’m not sure the risk-reward is worth it, even factoring in that Lillard could miss the entirety of 2025-26 with an achilles and will be 36 by the time he suits up again.

***

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

Click Here for more NBA Content

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out the Vendetta Shop

Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests