“Giannis go to Warriors” – ESPN UPDATE Heat are potential team for Dame after Bucks sign Turner

“Giannis go to Warriors” – ESPN UPDATE Heat are potential team for Dame after Bucks sign Turner

Agum and Shams, I’ll start with you. What can you tell us about this news surrounding the Bucks?
I mean, a stunner today in the NBA. They have reached a 4-year, $107 million agreement with Indiana Pacers center Miles Turner. He was a free agent. They are picking him up in free agency. And in order to do so, they are waving and stretching the $113 million on Damen Lillard’s contract. This opportunity came out of nowhere for the Bucks. Ms. Hearn is the longest tenure Pacer, 10 years there. He wanted to remain in Indie from my understanding. Uh the Pacers made several offers that were below market value from what I understand. And so John Horst as well as Turner’s agent Austin Brown, they worked over the last 24 hours to figure out is there a way a creative way in a very scarce marketplace in in right now salary cap around the league. Is there a way to bring Miles Turner to Milwaukee? And for the third time in Giannis Edutmpo’s Milwaukee tenure back in 2020, John Horse goes out and gets Drew Holiday. 2023, Damen Lillard. This one was more serious this summer of 2025 because Janso essentially was never as close as he’s been to potentially leaving Milwaukee and they go out and get a franchise caliber starting center. So Chana, with the Bucks waving Damen Lillard and getting Miles Turner, is this going to be enough to keep Giannis in Milwaukee, who’s been mum on his future with the team? One, we haven’t heard from him saying that he wants to go. But if I’m looking at the construction of their roster, to me, the standard is championship and this is not necessarily a championship squad. Now, I understand that the Bucks are truly trying to protect their chances with Giannis, but the message that was sent to Dame, I mean, he’s a future Hall of Famer, top 75 player in NBA history. he got that award. The message is that it’s truly a business and it’s really hard to swallow because on one hand I can understand the Bucks pivoting because obviously they were never Damon Giannis healthy at the right time. Their defense struggled once he came in but this really sets a precedent where you wave. I think Bobby Mark shared it. The this is the highest paid player to ever get waved. The largest wave and stretch in NBA history. Now, regardless, you know, I always feel like comparison is a thief of joy because we’re comparing adding Miles Turner to Dame, losing Dame. You know, Brook Lopez, they got younger. No longer having Brook Lopez, they got younger. But Turner is someone that shot a career best 40% from three. You need to bolster that front court. So, it is a good move. It just doesn’t feel like the only move that is necessary to retain Yiannis Kufo. And then also, what it did to Dame, it’s hard to swallow as well. Yeah. Let’s get to the Damen Lillard side of things. Shams, what more can you tell us about Damen Lillard’s future? I mean, I’m told that Damen Lillard welcomed the release today. He welcomed this change of scenery that he’s going to get from a business perspective. He gets all $113 million now owed to him. And then he also is going to be able to for the first time in his career pick his next destination. And in the meantime, as he rehabs that torn Achilles tendon, he’s going to spend that time rehabbing in Portland around his family members. So, this is going to be a lengthy rehab for Damen Lillard. But this is something he became open to today because it provides him the financial the the financial component, the freedom afterward to sign wherever he wants and then of course now a change of scenery away from Milwaukee.
And Jana, you touched on it a bit talking about it’s just a business in the NBA that this being a business move with Damen Lillard and the Bucks parting ways. However, a lot of reaction also in the NBA as well. What’s your reaction today to what’s gone down in Milwaukee? If Dame is good, I’m good. If he’s okay with this, I’m cool with it. Because waving a player of his caliber, you have to be able to make sure you respect his wishes because if you’re looking at a message from a franchise saying, “Hey, Bucks, like we’re willing to do this to a star player because you get injured.” I’m glad Dame has seen the bright side, right? We’re very much glass half full type of people. And now for the first time in his career, not only will he get paid, but he will be able to control his own destiny. And I know that it was difficult for him. He goes to Portland. He becomes a fan favorite. He’s your favorite hooper’s favorite hooper. Then he gets traded. Remember, we heard that maybe it was Miami that he wanted to go to. Instead, he goes to the Bucks. He’s a true consmate professional there. Just got some bad luck when it came to health on both sides, you know, with multiple teammates. And then now he’s looking forward to a future where he’s getting paid, but he also gets to choose where he really ends his career. I’m happy for D. Happy circumstance.
Yeah, a lot of people looking at it as cutthroat, but if Damen Lillard is happy, then everyone should be happy with the decision. Now Shams, you reported earlier on the Thunder and Shay Gilis Alexander’s agreement on a record contract extension. Tell us a little bit more about that.
The richest annual salary in NBA history. As Chennade goes, it’s all about the Benjamins. Four years, $285 million supermax contract for the league MVP, the reigning finals MVP, the scoring champion in the NBA. He joins a very exclusive group to have all of those accolades in one season. The names of like Michael Jordan. And so this is the second time Sheay Gills Alexander has extended in Oklahoma City since he arrived there in 2019. It shows the trust and the partnership he’s developed with that organization. Nothing there happens without that collaboration, the partnership and the trust that both Shay Gillis Alexander and the Thunder have built over these last six, seven years. Chana, I saw you making the money signs back there. What statement does OKC make by giving Shay Gil Alexander the supermax? Songs is way more classy and professional than me. The statement you’re supposed to go, it’s all about the Benjamins, baby. Okay, SGA. When I think about making 71 mil a year or so, is that it’s truly deserved. Extremely welld deserved. The most important awards in the NBA this past season, at least individually, all-star MVP, conference finals MVP, finals MVP, win a championship. He got all of those. I was saying like Infinity Stones. He’s like the ultimate Avenger. And so I’m not mad at it. I’m interested to see the next few years if they’re going to be able to retain their young core because we know he’s 26, 27, just accomplished the championship, but his running mates are 23, 24, and JDub and C. I’m curious to see how this team grows in the future. But right now, today, that man is winning. He’s paid and I’m I hope he’s on an island somewhere sipping some sipping something nice. Look, NBA champion, league MVP, finals MVP, and now he has an entire bag
on his contract to clear space to um sign free agent Miles Turner. So, when you think about Dame now and what his future looks like, where are some landing spots?
He’s the winner. He’s the winner.
Well, he’s he’s the winner, but he’s also kind of in a tough predicament. He’s the winner because look, Milwaukee was never where he wanted to be. Let’s be honest. You know, we all know the saga of he is in Portland. He requests the trade. this is an organization he gave his entire career to and they say, “Okay, we’ll trade you.” He makes it clear, look, Miami is really where I want to go. And in a move that’s just so anti the NBA and anti superstars, uh, the Portland Trailblazers sent him to Milwaukee. And we all know how difficult that was for him and his family and living away from them in Milwaukee. So now he gets his money and is an un unrestricted free agent. Um, and he’ll have the freedom to go wherever he wants. The catch of that though, he is of a particular age. He’s coming off of a massive injury. That does change the way a lot of guys play. And again, you want to incorporate the fact he’s of a particular age coming off of that injury. It does make things a little bit sticky in terms of where he can go, but he’s already got his money. He’s going to sit out for this year. He wasn’t going to play this upcoming season, and if he was, he’s going to be at the very tail end. So essentially, Damen Lillard does come out of this the winner until it is time for him to find a new home. And I feel like that’s going to be a little bit trickier once that time comes.
No, Damen Lillard can go to any team he wants.
Coming off of an injury at 35 years old,
he’s going to he the Bucks are paying him. He’ll play for a vet minimum.
This is free money.
But you’re assuming he wants to play for a vet minimum. What if
he’s already getting paid by the Bucks?
What I’m saying is what if he wants to go somewhere and wants a long-term deal? That’s where it gets sticky. That’s where the contention comes.
He’s already got all this money. No,
you don’t know that. There are guys in the league.
Then he would be making his own bed. I’m saying he has the opportunity in front of him. He’s already got max money coming from the Bucks. He can sign with any team. Any team in the NBA would sign Damen Lillard for a vet minimum.
For a vet minimum, that’s the key. I’m talking about if Dame Lillard wants to go somewhere and wants a long-term deal. So, he wants two max deals. If he wants a deal like they did with Kyrie Irving where they gave him less money and an extended period of time, that may be trickier.
But Ashley, he’s got five years with the Bucks. Five.
You I’m playing I’m simply playing devil’s advocate.
Two contracts.
I’m simply saying I’m simply playing devil’s advocate. You don’t know where his mindset is. You don’t know if he still believes that he is a player who can contribute to a basketball team and does not want to play for a vet minimum. If he does, that’s where it gets trickier. Ashley, if he was playing for any like if he wanted another long-term deal, he would have two max contracts. He has a max contract. He’s getting paid by the Bucks.
I’m not saying he needs a max contract. If he wants what if he wants to go somewhere and he wants to get signed for three years, $65 million. What if he wants to go somewhere and he wants to get two years 65?
Then he’s making his own.
Well, that’s that’s a very real possibility and that has to be addressed when the time
I don’t think so because he’s already got 113 million coming over. Where where where do we want to see him go?
Anywhere he wants. That’s that’s the point. He if he wants to ring chase now, nobody is bound by money now. If he wants to he can go to any team he wants. He can figure out the perfect playing time, the perfect championship, anything. Yeah, I mean vet minimums or anything around mid levels, whatever is free

“Giannis go to Warriors” – ESPN UPDATE Heat are potential team for Damian Lillard after Bucks sign Myles Turner