Bucks Waive Damian Lillard to Make Room for Former Texas Longhorns Star

AUSTIN -- The Milwaukee Bucks are making major headlines as NBA free agency continues to heat up, and a former Texas Longhorns star is right in the mix.

Per reports from ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Bucks are waiving nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard in order to make room for the addition former Texas big man Myles Turner, who Charania reported has agreed to a deal with Milwaukee.

"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," Charania wrote on X. "Lillard's two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon."

Myles Turner Contract Details

Charania reported that Turner has agreed to four-year, $107 million deal with Milwaukee. He spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Indiana Pacers, helping lead the team to the NBA Finals this past season where they fell short in Game 7 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"It's a championship game -- do or die," Turner said leading up to Game 7. "You shouldn't have to get hyped to play this game, man. I think the situation is what it is."

The Pacers selected Turner with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after spending just one season in Austin. During his freshman season at Texas, Turner played in 34 games (seven starts) while averaging 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.

During the Finals, Turner even shouted out former Longhorn and longtime NBA veteran P.J. Tucker by wearing his shoes.

"These are actually P.J. Tucker's, another former Longhorn himself," Turner said. "I've worn the Kobe's for the past five years or so. They're just the most comfortable shoe for me, and this pattern is just nice and vibrant."

Turner will now start the next chapter of his impressive career with a Bucks team that faces a ton of question marks after the release of Lillard. Milwaukee won it all in 2021 thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo's heroics but the team does not appear to be an Eastern Conference contender despite the additon of Turner.

Across 642 career regular-season games, Turner has made 609 starts, all with the Pacers. He's averaged double figures every year of his career, including this past season when he finished with averages of 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.