Damian Lillard Reportedly 'Elated' to Be Waived By Bucks, NBA Contenders Eyeing Star

Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard was "elated" to learn of his departure from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported Tuesday that the Bucks are using the stretch provision to waive Lillard, which gave them the flexibility to agree to a four-year, $107 million contract with center Myles Turner.

Amick wrote the veteran point guard has already "received calls from several contending teams."

"League sources say Lillard is elated with this decision, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star level players, if any, have experienced in league history," the NBA insider reported. "In short, he'll be able to join the contending team of his choosing, either sometime soon or perhaps next summer, without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part."

It's not all that surprising for Lillard to have such a robust market despite the fact he's likely to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season. His reputation as a scorer and playmaker precedes him, and he'll likely come at a much lower cost than the $56.3 million average salary he earned from his last contract.

However, it's fair to wonder what kind of player the 34-year-old will be after a major Achilles injury when his game was already starting to show signs of an age-related decline.

In his two seasons with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.6 points on 43.4 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. While his scoring average closely mirrored his 11 years with the Portland Trail Blazers (25.2), it was well below his peak. This is a player who has twice eclipsed 30-plus points per game over a full campaign.

The cracks in Lillard's defense, which wasn't a strength to begin with, started to show even more as well.

The 6'2" guard isn't a dead-eye sharpshooter. He has connected on 37.1 percent of his long-range jumpers for his career and only once got above 40 percent. A lot of his effectiveness as a scorer was predicated on his athleticism and ability to get to the basket.

Between being in his mid-30s and having torn his Achilles, the explosiveness he once displayed might be significantly diminished.

Whenever Lillard is medically cleared to play again, fans should temper their expectations for how much he can help his next team.