Milwaukee Bucks Will Waive Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard’s era in Milwaukee is over. The Bucks will waive Lillard as part of their plan to sign the Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner. Lillard was traded to Milwaukee two seasons ago from the Portland Trail Blazers. The news was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Just in: The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner, sources tell ESPN. Lillard’s two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon.

Lillard was expected to miss this season due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent, and can sign wherever he wishes, except back in Milwaukee.

Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 25.2 points and 6.7 assists per game, and won a series of awards, including Rookie of the Year, seven All-Star appearances, five top-ten finishes in MVP voting, and seven All-NBA Team appearances, including one First Team.

Update (8:40 a.m.): Chris Haynes reports that Giannis Antetokounmpo was unhappy at the news.

Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)

BREAKING: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is not pleased with the team’s decision to waive Damian Lillard, league sources tell me.

Update (10:33 a.m.): While making an appearance on NBA TV, Haynes also reports that the Heat and Trail Blazers could be in the mix of free agency destinations for Lillard.

One of those teams to look out for is the Miami Heat. That was the team that was trying to trade for him when Dame did request a trade from Portland initially, so that’s one team that’s going to be in the mix. There are others as well. Throw Portland in there as well as a team that could possibly make a reunion, but it’s the early stages for him.

Update (11:04 a.m.): Sam Amick of the Athletic published Lillard’s reaction to being waived.

League sources say Damian Lillard is elated with the Bucks’ decision to waive and stretch his contract, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star level players, if any, have experienced in league history. 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.