Bucks Waive Lillard, Sign Turner, Manage $113M Dead Money

The Milwaukee Bucks made a bold move in the 2025 offseason by waiving nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, in order to create salary cap space to sign free agent Myles Turner. General Manager Jon Horst explained that despite the significant financial burden of $22.5 million in dead money annually over five years from Lillard's contract, the decision was driven by the urgency to maximize Giannis Antetokounmpo's prime years and improve the team's immediate championship prospects. Turner, signed to a four-year, $108.9 million deal, is seen as an elite player who fits well alongside Giannis, providing both rim protection and floor spacing. Horst emphasized the strategic nature of the move, viewing it as an opportunistic choice to balance present competitiveness with future risk, noting that four of the five years will feature Turner's active contribution. This aggressive financial decision reflects the Bucks' commitment to retooling their roster for a deep playoff run rather than waiting for Lillard’s recovery. The front office remains confident that the benefits of acquiring Turner and other roster moves will outweigh the dead money's impact on the salary cap.