Bucks Insider Says Damian Lillard Move Was 'Basketball Decision' and Not 'Panic Move'

A Milwaukee Bucks team source provided some insight this week into the decision to waive injured guard Damian Lillard and sign center Myles Turner in free agency this past offseason.

Speaking to ESPN's Jamal Collier, the source said, "The biggest misconception is that this was a panic move. It wasn't. It was a basketball decision. Dame on the other end of it, you're not sure what that was going to look like. Meanwhile, Myles is a perfect fit. We want to win here."

Lillard suffered a torn Achilles during the playoffs last season, which played a big role in rumors and speculation regarding a potential trade of franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks acquired Lillard in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023 in an attempt to keep their championship window open after winning a title in 2021 and following it up with second- and first-round playoff exits.

Lillard was a quality running mate for Giannis, averaging 24.6 points per game over his two seasons in Milwaukee and earning a pair of All-Star selections.

However, with a torn Achilles likely to keep him out for the entirety of the 2025-26 season and no guarantee that he would ever return to form given that he is now 35 years old, the Bucks had to make a difficult decision on Lillard.

They ultimately chose to waive him, which created space for the signing of Turner, adding the productive center to a core of Giannis, Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr. and others.

Had the Bucks not signed Turner, it would have been somewhat difficult to envision them even being a playoff team in the Eastern Conference despite how wide open it is.

At 29, Turner is significantly younger than Lillard, plus he is coming off a trip to the NBA Finals with the Indiana Pacers, so he is accustomed to deep playoff runs.

Turner Throws It Down

00:10

Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers made, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists for the Pacers last season, making him the type of versatile big who can thrive alongside Antetokounmpo.

It is unclear if the Turner signing played a role in convincing Giannis to stay in Milwaukee for now, but it could go a long way toward keeping him there for the long haul if the Bucks are able to play winning basketball this season.

As for Lillard, he rejoined the Blazers after spending his first 11 seasons with the organization, perhaps allowing him to finish up where his career started.