Golden State Looks To Sign Damian Lillard After Bucks Waive Him

Golden State Looks To Sign Damian Lillard After Bucks Waive Him

[Music] The NBA landscape has shifted. The Milwaukee Bucks just announced they were waving all-star point guard Damen Lillard, opting to stretch the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five seasons to facilitate the signing of free agent center Miles Turner to a 4-year $17 million deal. This stunning move reported by ESPN’s Shams Cherania marks the end of Lillard’s torturous two-year tenure with the Bucks and raises significant questions about his future in the league. While Dame has expressed in the past that he wanted to play for the Heat, is this even possible at this juncture? Considering his recent Achilles injury, his age, the fact that Jimmy Butler is in Golden State instead of Miami, not to mention the direction the Miami Heat appears to be headed in terms of getting younger, the answer to that might be a no. The Warriors do need a player in the back court with Steph Curry, however. And with his boy Jimmy already on the roster, not to mention the presence of his former coach, Terry Sts, the Dubs might be able to facilitate a move. So, what led up to the Bucks waving the second highest paid player on the roster? Is this the end of Lillard? Perhaps, but watch the entire video to find out. You are watching. [Applause] Damen Lillard’s arrival in Milwaukee in September 2023 was a blockbuster move designed to extend the Bucks championship window. After spending 11 seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, where he established himself as a seventime all-star, seventime allNBA selection, and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Lillard requested a trade in the 2023 offseason. His preference was clear. He wanted to join the Miami Heat to chase the championship alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adabio. However, Portland, unwilling to accommodate his one-team demand, sent him to Milwaukee in a three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks parted with Drew Holiday, a key piece of their 2021 championship team, along with Grayson Allen, a 2029 firstround pick, and pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to acquire Lillard. The trade was a bold statement by Bucks general manager John Horst, signaling a commitment to pair Lillard with two-time MVP Giannis Ankmpo to form one of the NBA’s most formidable duos. The Bucks, fresh off a firstround playoff exit in 2023, were under pressure to keep ano satisfied as he had hinted at seeking a trade if the organization didn’t show a renewed focus on contending. Lillard, known for his clutch scoring and playmaking, was seen as the perfect complent to an Kmpo’s dominance with the goal of recapturing the 2021 championship magic. However, the partnership never fully materialized as envisioned. Plagued by injuries, Giannis and Tentuko leaving in the third quarter with a calf injury,
chemistry issues, and organizational issues. Lillard’s two seasons in Milwaukee were marked by flashes of brilliance, but they were never really quite able to put it together. In his debut season, Lillard averaged 24 points and seven assists, showcasing his elite scoring and playmaking. But the Bucks struggled with cohesion. The hiring of Adrien Griffin as head coach proved disastrous with Griffin lasting just 44 games before being fired, including a practice dispute that led to assistant coach Terry Sts, Lillard’s former coach in Portland, resigning before the season began. Doc Rivers was brought in mid-season to stabilize the team, but the Bucks were eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers with Lillard missing two games due to an Achilles strain and honored a compost sideline for the entire series with a calf injury. The following season offered hope for a turnaround. Lillard, now 34, averaged 25 points and seven assists, earning his ninth All-Star selection and helping the Bucks win the NBA Cup. He and Ano showed signs of improved chemistry, but roster deficiencies persisted. The Bucks then traded Chris Middleton for Kyle Kosma at the 2025 deadline, a move that backfired as Koozma underperformed in the postseason. Additionally, key veterans like Brook Lopez began showing signs of age and the team lacked depth and tradable assets due to previous blockbuster deals. The most significant blow came in the 2025 playoffs. Lillard who missed the final 14 regular season games due to deep vein thrombosis or DVT
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in his right calf made a remarkably quick return for the postseason cleared to play after being taken off blood thinning medication. However, in game four against the Pacers, Lillard suffered a devastating non-cont injury while chasing an offensive rebound. An MRI confirmed a torn left Achilles tendon, ending his season and casting doubt on his future. The Bucks lost the series in five games, marking their third consecutive first round exit. The injury, combined with the team’s ongoing struggles, set the stage for the shocking decision to wave Lillard. Lillard’s Achilles tear was a pivotal factor in the Buck’s decision to wave him. The injury, which occurred just 6 minutes into game four, required surgery on May 2nd, 2025. An Achilles tear is among the most severe injuries for an athlete, typically requiring 9 to 12 months of recovery, with many players struggling to regain their pre-injjury form, especially at age 34. Lillard’s case was further complicated by his recent DVT
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diagnosis, which sidelined him for over a month and likely contributed to deconditioning, increasing his injury risk. While the DVT and Achilles tear were in different legs and not directly related, the physical toll of returning to playoff intensity after limited activity may have been a factor. The Bucks faced a roster building nightmare with Lillard’s $54 million salary for 2026 and a 58.5 million player option for 2027 consuming significant cap space while he rehabilitated. With Honored Dempo’s $63 million player option for 2027 and Koozma’s underwhelming performance, the Bucks were over the projected $155 million salary cap with just four guaranteed contracts. The organization, which had paid $220 million in luxury tax payments over the past five seasons, was reluctant to continue operating above the tax line for a team unlikely to contend without Lillard. By waving and stretching Lillard’s contract, the Bucks spread the $113 million over 5 years, reducing the annual cap head to $22.4 million through 2029 and 2030. This move freed up space to sign Miles Turner, a 29-year-old center capable of spacing the floor and defending the rim, signaling a shift toward building around Honored Kumbo with a new core. While Turner just finished up going to the finals with the Indiana Pacers, he was underwhelmed with their offer and wanted to make sure that he got paid more than Niles Reed, who was signed to 5 years and 125 million. The Bucks offer of 107 million over four years eclipses that 25 million a year factor. ESPN’s Brian Windhorse and other analysts including The Athletics Eric Neem and Sam Aik reported that the Bucks were considering trading Lillard even before his Achilles injury. Had Lillard remained healthy and the Bucks still lost in the first round, discussions about his future in Milwaukee were planned, particularly regarding whether he wanted to stay. Lillard’s fit with Honor Dempo, while improved in 2025, never fully met expectations, and the team’s lack of depth and draft capital limited their ability to build a championship caliber roster around two supermax contracts. The injury eliminated trade possibilities as no team would take on Lillard’s $113 million deal with his recovery timeline uncertain. Instead, the Bucks opted to wave him, leveraging the stretch provision to maintain flexibility while pursuing Turner. As a free agent, Lillard can sign with any team potentially for the veterans minimum. As Windhorse noted, due to the stretched payments from Milwaukee, ensuring he receives $22.4 million annually through 2030. His preferred destination prior to being traded to the Bucks was the Miami Heat, a team he explicitly targeted in 2023. Miami’s interest in Lillard was well documented during his trade saga with the Heat reportedly offering a package including Tyler Herro, draft picks, and expiring contracts. However, the Heat’s roster at the time faced challenges including Butler’s contract uncertainty and a lack of cap space. With Butler being traded to the Warriors and Pat Riley looking at keeping younger players on the roster, they might not be as interested in Lillard as they were two years ago. Other teams could also pursue Lillard. The Los Angeles Lakers seeking a third star to pair with LeBron James and Luca Donic could view Lillard as a low-risk, highreward addition, especially if he’s available at a minimum salary. Finally, multiple reports confirm the Warriors have reached out to Lillard. As an Oakland native, Lillard’s ties to the Bay Area adds a homecoming field. The Warriors could sign Lillard to a veterans minimum where he could play alongside Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green. This would be an actual cheat code if Lillard is able to return healthy. The only problem is that Lillard isn’t set to return until the end of next season, meaning he’ll skip an entire year. The Warriors, hoping to sign him early, however, would be fine with this outcome as they still have a second year with Jimmy Butler, and a vet minimum salary would be peanuts. Could this be what the Warriors need to get a fifth ring in the Stephen Curry era? Not so fast. Lillard’s recovery from his Achilles tear is a critical factor over the next few years. At 34, he falls into the high-risisk age group for Achilles injuries, which require extensive rehabilitation due to the tendons role in explosive movements like jumping and pivoting. The typical recovery timeline is 9 to 12 months with surgery followed by controlled mobility, often using a walking boot or cast. Lillard was spotted in a walking boot in June 2025, indicating he’s in the early stages of rehab. Successful returns like Kevin Durant after his 2019 Achilles tear offer hope, but Durant was 30 at the time. If Lillard was signing a full contract such as Kevin Durant did with the Nets, then it would be a risky bet. However, when you consider the amount they’d be paying him, that risk is more than worth the reward. With $22.4 million in passive income, Lillard will likely never sign another large contract with an NBA team. The Bucks have also handicapped themselves with 22.5 million in cap space essentially gone. The only saving grace is that this rides through the potential tenure of Giannis if he doesn’t request a trade. Keeping Giannis means the Bucks have to be trying to win a championship every season. So going into luxury taxes will have to become the norm. The opposite could be true, however, because if they do trade him, that handicap means they won’t be able to compete for a few years and a rebuild through the draft plus highle returns for Giannis would be likely. Would a Golden State signing rehab Lillard or have the Bucks effectively signal the end of an era? Post your thoughts in the comments below. Just be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on all your notifications so you don’t miss any of my latest uploads. Thanks for watching. Till next time. [Music] It’s a blood clot. You see it?

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Damian Lillard on a veteran’s minimum?

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