The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly waiving point guard Damian Lillard and will stretch the remaining $113 million of his contract in order to sign free agent center Myles Turner, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday (July 1).
Lillard, 34, suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in April, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
"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," Charania wrote on his X account. "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."
Lillard, 34, suffered the injury during the Bucks' Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Turner's former team, while attempting to keep an offensive rebound alive before falling onto the court without contact. The nine-time All-Star stayed on the ground during the Pacers' offensive possession and appeared to grab his left foot before sitting with his elbows on his knees prior to play being stopped.
Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds during the 2024-25 regular-season, as well as 7.0 points, and 4.7 assists in three postseason games.
Turner, 29, was the Pacers' longest-tenured player, spending his entire 10-year career with the franchise. The former University of Texas standout shot a career-best 39.6% from 3-point range while averaging 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds, as well as leading the Pacers with 2.0 blocks per game.