Bucks Bet Big on Myles Turner, Stretch Damian Lillard in Busy 2025 Offseason
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Milwaukee, WI — The Milwaukee Bucks tore up the script this summer, using a series of cap-clearing maneuvers to land veteran center Myles Turner on a four-year, $108.87 million contract and to reset a roster that had fallen in the first round three straight seasons.
Key Free-Agent Additions and Returns
The headline move brought Turner from Indiana, where he had spent 10 seasons. His deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker and a fourth-year player option. Milwaukee also re-signed several rotation pieces:
- Bobby Portis: three years, $43.56 million, third-year option (Bird rights)
- Ryan Rollins: three years, $12 million, third-year option (Early Bird)
- Kevin Porter Jr.: two years, $10.52 million, second-year option (room exception)
- Gary Trent Jr.: two years, $7.58 million, second-year option (Non-Bird)
- Gary Harris, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims: two-year minimums, second-year options
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cole Anthony, Chris Livingston, Amir Coffey, Cormac Ryan: one-year minimum agreements (Coffey non-guaranteed; Ryan Exhibit 10)
Damian Lillard Contract Stretched
Faced with Damian Lillard’s torn Achilles and two years, $112.58 million left on his deal, the Bucks used the stretch provision, spreading the money over five seasons and trimming his 2025/26 cap hit by more than $31 million.
Trade and Draft Activity
Milwaukee acquired guard Vasilije Micic and two future second-rounders from Charlotte for Pat Connaughton, then bought out Micic, saving additional space.
In the draft, the club selected Serbian forward Bogoljub Markovic at No. 47; he will remain with Mega Basket overseas.
Two-Way Deals
Guard Mark Sears signed a one-year, $85,300 partial guarantee, joining holdovers Jamaree Bouyea and Pete Nance on two-way contracts.
Cap Snapshot
The Bucks are operating above the $154.6 million salary cap yet below the $187.9 million luxury-tax threshold, carrying roughly $174.1 million in commitments with a portion of the room exception ($3.65 million) still available.
Roster Decisions Ahead
Milwaukee has 15 fully guaranteed spots, plus partially guaranteed Andre Jackson Jr. and non-guaranteed Amir Coffey. Bubble candidates include 2023 second-rounder Chris Livingston and 2024 pick Tyler Smith. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is unlikely to be waived given his link to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Potential Mid-Season Moves
Kyle Kuzma, coming off a career-low 14.8 points and 30.7 percent three-point shooting, is extension-eligible but profiles as a trade chip alongside the Bucks’ lone movable first-rounder (2031 or 2032). Sharpshooter A.J. Green—42.7 percent from deep last season—remains a logical in-season extension target.
With Turner in place and Lillard’s salary restructured, Milwaukee hopes the reshaped roster will keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in championship contention while the front office retains flexibility for further tweaks.
Source: Hoops Rumors
