In a move that shocked the NBA world on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to waive nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard to make cap space to sign 10-year NBA veteran Myles Turner. Turner has been with the Indiana Pacers since he was drafted by them in 2015.
The now-former Pacers center has agreed to sign a four-year $107 million contract with the Bucks. The deal will reportedly include a player option for the 2028-29 season and a 15% trade kicker.
On Tuesday, the Bucks also decided to stretch the remaining $112.5 million on Lillard’s contract over the next five years, which means that he will be paid roughly $22.5 million each year through the 2029-30 NBA season. Amid all the chatter, one NBA analyst gave her verdict on the implications of the unprecedented move on the Bucks.
Ramona Shelburne Believes Bucks Are Not Better Without Damian Lillard
In a special episode of NBA Today covering the league’s Free Agency, host Malika Andrews asked senior writer and NBA analyst Ramona Shelburne if the Bucks are “materially better” than they were when the team was healthy last season. “Not without Dame,” the analyst said. “They are going to miss Dame,” she further declared.
Hall-of-fame basketball reporter, Marc Spears, was also on the panel when Andrews posed this question and said, “I’ll wait and see. I feel they’re still working on their chemistry. They (Bucks) could end up regretting it if he’s (Lillard) back sooner than expected. That’s the thing I am keeping an eye on.”
Is the Bucks roster in a better spot with the addition of Myles Turner than it was last season post-injuries? @ramonashelburne and @MarcJSpears weigh in 🏀 pic.twitter.com/NQ0jppwJJM
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 2, 2025
In the 2024-25 season, Lillard played 58 games and averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. He also earned an All-Star appearance for his performances. He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis late last season but made a return during the playoffs. He struggled to find rhythm after returning and averaged just 7.0 points and 4.7 assists in three postseason games.
On the other hand, Turner played in 72 games for the Indiana Pacers last season and averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. He played an essential role in the Pacers’ run to the NBA final, averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 23 games in the playoffs. He led the league in blocks twice, in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.
Turner, however, has never made the All-Star game or an All-NBA team in his career, while Dame Time has made seven All-NBA teams and was one of the 75 players selected on the NBA 75th anniversary team.
Quite intriguingly, a report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick stated that Lillard was “elated” when he heard that the Bucks had waived him, since it allows him to test the market earlier than expected. According to Bjorn Bergstrom, the star could sign his next contract with either the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs, or the Portland Trailblazers.
