Bucks’ Lillard-Turner Move Shocks NBA

• The Bucks’ Lillard-Turner move struck the NBA like lightning, but what does it mean to Damian Lillard, Myles Turner, and the league?
• At first glance, the decision came as a shock, but when dissected, it makes sense
• Giannis Antetokounmpo was as stunned as anyone and has expressed his displeasure or his excitement, depending on who you believe
• Does this move the needle for floundering Milwaukee?

Bucks’ Odds For an NBA Title in 2025-26? Not Very Good.

Oddsmakers have given the Bucks the 18th-best odds in the league to win the 2025-26 chip. It was probably slightly worse before waiving Damian Lillard and signing Myles Turner, since Lillard is not going to play this coming season anyway.

Lillard is Rehabbing From a Torn Achilles

Lillard tore his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against, ironically, the Pacers. Every player is different, but it’s safe to assume that Lillard will be out for the entire 2025-26 season. If he has a quicker-than-average recovery, perhaps he can return for the playoffs with a title contender.

Despite a few highlight reel moments, Lillard’s trade to Milwaukee to team with Antetokounmpo did not work as well in practice as it did on paper.

In Lillard’s first season with the team, the Bucks’ impatience with head coach Adrian Griffin in 2023-24, firing him when the team was 30-13, and replacing him with Doc Rivers has been an undeniable failure.

Lillard’s contract and the desire to sign Turner facilitated this maneuver, something akin to contractual sleight of hand. Lillard’s contract calls for him to make $113 million for the next two seasons. He turns 35 in two weeks and won’t play again until he’s 36. Waiving him allows the Bucks to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the contract for five years. It gave them room to sign Turner to a $107 million contract over four years.

Would the Bucks have done this had Lillard not blown out his Achilles? A likelier scenario is that they would have approached him about a trade, and he would have been open to it.

So what’s the difference?

He’ll have his choice of where to sign, and it will be a contender where he can be a puzzle piece to a championship. That was not going to happen in Milwaukee.

Turner Helps the Bucks, but They Need To Smooth Things With Giannis

Turner is a 2X NBA block champion and helped the Pacers to a surprising run to the NBA Finals and the brink of a title. He is a better defender than Lillard. Former Bucks center Brook Lopez has signed with the Clippers, so Turner takes over for him.

Turner will not get to wear number 33 in Milwaukee since it’s in the rafters for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

There were conflicting reports about how Antetokounmpo reacted. First, he was said to be unhappy, then a report came out saying he was “excited.”

The most believable explanation is that he said the star knew the Bucks were signing Turner, but didn’t know they were dumping Lillard to do it.

Again, what’s the difference?

Antetokounmpo will be 31 in December. He is signed through 2026-27 and has a $62,786,682 player option for 2027-28. Will he be with the Bucks by then?

Does the Bucks’ Lillard-Turner Move Help Them, Hurt Them, or Do Nothing?

The Bucks’ chances for a championship will not be impacted either way by this maneuver. They weren’t winning it with an injured Lillard on the roster rehabbing and whoever they brought in to try and compete, and they’re not winning it with Turner, Antetokounmpo, and…whoever else they bring in to try and compete.

So, what are your thoughts on this stunner? Did the Bucks do the right thing, or have they alienated Antetokounmpo further to the point where he might ask out too?

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