Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Milwaukee Bucks Waive Injured Damian Lillard, Signs Myles Turner from Pacers

Bucks had to cut Damian Lillard to make room under the cap.

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

After losing Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks now have a new starting center. That’s because the franchise has agreed to a $107 million, four-year contract with Myles Turner, one of the Indiana Pacers’ standouts in recent years. The information is from Shams Charania, from ESPN, this Tuesday.

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

“The Bucks found a creative path to waive and stretch Lillard – whose $113M will be stretched over the next five seasons – while leaving their future draft assets untouched. In a stunning turn of events, Myles Turner departs the Pacers to join the Bucks,” Shams Charania said in his report via ESPN.

Pacers center Myles Turner has agreed to a 4-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a player option for year four in 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker. Turner was part of Indiana’s glorious campaign to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

Also Read: Kevon Looney Leaves Golden State For New Orleans Pelicans, Warriors Target Celtics’ Big As Replacement

Bucks Move On From Damian Lillard and Waive their All-Star Guard after Turner Contract

Additionally, the Bucks had to cut Damian Lillard to make room under the cap. So the franchise released the veteran point guard and will pay the remainder of his salary over the next five years. In total, according to spotrac, Milwaukee will pay him $22 million per year through 2029-30, which will count as dead cap against the salary cap. Now Lillard is a free agent on the market.

According to Shams, Turner’s desire was to remain with the Pacers, where he has played since the beginning of his career in 2015. However, with the injury of Tyrese Haliburton, the franchise decided not to exceed the fees and pay the fines. Thus, the Bucks, who were without a center and dreamed of Deandre Ayton, went after the starting center of a team that was one game away from being NBA champion.

The Bucks' new look starting five after adding Myles Turner and waiving Damian Lillard 👀

(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/jQ2Nlus1wR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2025

Last season, Turner averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and shot 39.6 percent from three. He is also a defensive force in and out of the paint, filling in for Lopez in virtually everything the veteran did. Despite losing a key piece in Brook Lopez, Milwaukee managed to bring back some familiar players.

That’s because the franchise has agreed to re-sign Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. In other words, the Bucks have brought in four key players from the 2025 playoff rotation, all of them for at least two years. They will then play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo next season to try to surprise a weaker East.

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.