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Bucks' Stunning Moves Make Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Intentions 'Very Clear'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 1:04 PM ET

If there was a chance that the Bucks were angling to deal away star forward Giannis Antetkounmpo this season, somehow hoping that the franchise could go gently into that good rebuild, those chances were pretty much doused on Tuesday morning, when Milwaukee pulled off a pair of stunners.

First, the Bucks decided that, rather than wait out the Achilles tendon rehab of star guard Damian Lillard, who was injured in the first round of the postseason, they'd simply rip off the Band-Aid. They waived Lillard outright, using the rarely-employed waive-and-stretch provision that allows the team to spread Lillard's remaining $113 million cap hit over the coming years.

With that newly created space, the Bucks made a bold move toward bolstering the teaam, which has lacked assets and depth as it has headed into steep decline going back to its 2021 championship season. Milwaukee poached arguably the best attainable piece on the free-agent market, center Myles Turner from the Pacers.

The move does not make the Bucks a powerhouse, exactly, but combined with the re-signing of Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince, it should help keep the team firmly in the East playoff picture.

As one league executive said via text, "Not what you would do if you're rebuilding, that is very clear."

Indeed, everything the Bucks are doing at this point is designed to ensure that Antetokounmpo will not ask for a trade this summer. Antetokounmpo has been weighing his options on seeking a trade from a Bucks team that has clearly hit a wall.

While there was a report that Antetokounmpo was not happy that Lillard was waived, the fact is that without making that transaction and excising Lillard's money from the team's books, the Bucks had no avenues to improve the roster.

There will be more moves to come, but adding Turner on a four-year, $107 million deal is a big step for the Bucks--and a big step toward keeping Antetokounmpo in place.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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