Windhorst Predicts Myles Turner Contract 'Significantly Lowers' Giannis Trade Chances

At least one NBA insider believes the Milwaukee Bucks' flurry of moves on Tuesday—which included using the waive-and-stretch provision to release Damian Lillard and then use the cap savings to sign center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal—should result in Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining with the organization.

"If you're a team out there like maybe the San Antonio Spurs or the New York Knicks or the Miami Heat who were maybe saving up their assets to try to make some sort of Antetokounmpo run if the Bucks weren't able to have an impactful free agency, you have to reevaluate how you're now operating over the next few days as well," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said during Tuesday's First Take (h/t RealGM). "I would have to assume this significantly lowers the chances of Antetokounmpo becoming available anytime soon."

"Giannis, I believe, is looking for reasons to stay in Milwaukee," he added. "That's one of the reasons he has stepped back and let them go through their process. If Giannis was looking for a reason to stay in Milwaukee, this was enough of a reason to be excited about coming back."

The Bucks weren't done wheeling and dealing from there, signing guard Gary Harris and center Jericho Sims to two-year deals and trading Pat Connaughton and a pair of second-rounders to the Charlotte Hornets for Vasilije Micić in a cost-cutting move.

It's probable that the Bucks aren't done. A big three of Antetokounmpo, Turner and Kyle Kuzma is a bit wonky.

But Lillard was likely going to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, costing the Greek Freak an entire year of his prime. Now, at least, the Bucks have a chance to be a contender in the wide-open Eastern Conference, even if the price will be paid out over the next five years as Milwaukee pays the remaining $113 million owed to Lillard over that time.