Source: Jimmie Kaska | Civic Media
Milwaukee Bucks waive Lillard, trade Connaughton, sign Turner in major roster shake-up
The stunning move is the largest use of the NBA's Stretch Provision in history.
Jul 1, 2025, 6:03 AM CT
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MILWAUKEE (Civic Media) – The Milwaukee Bucks are overhauling their roster this offseason, punctuated by a historic move on Tuesday.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Bucks waived Damian Lillard and signed Miles Turner.
Charania also reported later Tuesday that the Bucks traded Pat Connaughton to Charlotte for Vasilije Micić.
Lillard, who spent two seasons in Milwaukee, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs and will likely miss the entire upcoming season.
Lillard was acquired two seasons ago in a shake-up that saw the Bucks move on from Jrue Holiday, who helped the Boston Celtics to a title.
The $113 million due to Lillard will be paid out over the next five years via a salary cap mechanism known as the stretch provision, which allows teams to waive players and spread out the guaranteed portion of their contracts over a period of time. Lillard will cost over $22 million per year against the Bucks’ cap.
It’s the largest contract to be used in the stretch provision in NBA history.
Meanwhile, the Bucks will add Myles Turner, the longtime Indiana Pacers center who had no intentions of leaving the NBA Finals runner-up from this past season. However, the Pacers are also dealing with their own Achilles injury to star Tyrese Haliburton, a Wisconsin native who played high school basketball at Oshkosh North.
Lillard, who turns 35 later this month, becomes a free agent. Lillard is a 9-time NBA All-Star and 7-time All-NBA selection and has played 13 seasons in the NBA. Turner, 29, signed a 4-year, $107 million contract to join the Bucks.
In addition, the Bucks traded mainstay Pat Connaughton to the Charlotte Hornets for Vasilije Micić, whom the Hornets had acquired Monday from Phoenix. Micić, who plays point guard, has played for three teams in his 2-year NBA career, averaging 6.8 points per game on 32.9% shooting from 3.
Connaughton, who was traded along with the Bucks’ second-round picks in 2031 and 2032 to Charlotte, spent the last seven seasons in Milwaukee, averaging 6.8 points per game on 35.5% shooting from deep. Connaughton, 32, has 10 years of NBA experience.
So far, the Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed Bobby Portis, Gary Trent, Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter on 2-year contracts this offseason. Brook Lopez, an anchor for the Bucks’ recent title run, signed a 2-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, creating a need at center.
The Bucks also signed center Jericho Sims to a 2-year deal and added forward Gary Harris in free agency on a 2-year contract.
This story has been updated to represent additional moves made by the Milwaukee Bucks since the news of Lillard’s release.
Jimmie is Civic Media’s Sports Director who also works in digital content, sports, news, and talk programming. Email him at jimmie.kaska@civicmedia.us.
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