The Milwaukee Bucks stunned the NBA world by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard’s contract in order to sign Myles Turner away from the Indiana Pacers. Now, Lillard is an unrestricted free agent and his NBA future is uncertain.
This is now one of free agency’s biggest stories, and Lillard is hitting the open market just two months after suffering a torn left Achilles tendon during the playoffs. When will he return to the court?
Damian Lillard’s Injury and Recovery Timeline
During Game 4 of the Bucks-Pacers first-round playoff series, Lillard injured his left Achilles while pursuing a rebound. An MRI confirmed it was torn on April 28, 2025. He underwent surgery with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on May 2, 2025. Typically, it takes NBA players roughly 10 to 12 months to recover from a torn Achilles. While it was initially expected that Lillard would miss the entire 2025–26 season, that may not be the case.
ESPN’s NBA insider Marc Spears turned heads on Tuesday by stating that Lillard may actually return much sooner than previously expected.
“When will Dame be back? There’s some speculation that he could be back around the All-Star break,” Spears said. “If he signs with a team, it’s probably gonna be a two-year deal.”
Marc Spears on Damian Lillard:
“He’s ecstatic. There’s about double-digit number of teams calling, interested in him. When will Dame be back? There’s some speculation that he could be back around the all star break. If he signs with a team, it’s probably gonna be a 2-year deal” pic.twitter.com/k1Va5q5tYF
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 1, 2025
If Spears is correct, that means Lillard could return in February, which would be 10 months out (making this timeline realistic).
Lillard had recently returned from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosis that caused him to miss 14 regular-season games. Medical studies show around 73% of NBA players return after Achilles surgery, though many experience reduced minutes, efficiency, and career longevity.
Last season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 triples, and 1.2 steals while appearing in 58 games and playing 36.1 minutes per night.
BREAKING: Free agent center Myles Turner has agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a player option for year four in 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. Stunner. pic.twitter.com/MlDkZusVOv
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
Financially, the Bucks used the stretch provision to distribute Lillard’s remaining $113 million contract over five years. This cap maneuver is what allowed them to sign Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Turner signing shortly before Lillard was waived. The 34-year-old guard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists in 58 games last season, but his career now faces significant uncertainty.
