Milwaukee Bucks Make Wild Splash Out of Nowhere, Add Top Free Agent Big for 4 Years, $107 Million

Now a nine-year veteran, Turner had a bit of down season in 2024-25 in terms of volume, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. He shot 48.1% from the floor and 39.6% from deep. His three-point percentage was actually a career-high.

On a basic level, the 29-year-old is a younger, somewhat juiced-up version of departing free agent big Brook Lopez. Turner is fleeter afoot than Lopez, even earlier in the latter’s career, and offers the same range and shot-blocking that Splash Mountain provided for the title team.

Turner Signing Elevates Roster in Big Way

He presumably becomes the starting center in the Bucks starting lineup, relegating Portis to his accustomed sixth man role. Even after the Portis signing, Milwaukee still needed at least a backup five. Names like the Suns’ Nick Richards and the Bucks’ own free agent Jericho Sims were among the options thrown around. The Turner signing is far larger than any deal linked to the team. Given the lack of obvious cap space and the Bucks’ reported desire to avoid the luxury tax if possible, most team insiders anticipated a somewhat tame free agency built around the $14.1 million midlevel exception.

Both Portis and Trent did the team a favor with their deals, and frankly, Turner has as well. He does have the player option in year four, of course, but given the bags other bigs have gotten, he seemed like a $35 million per year player. Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Houston’s Jabari Smith, neither considered to be in Turner’s range, both signed deals worth around $25M per season.

Fresh off a championship run with the Pacers, Turner constitutes a Bucks acquisition that immediately raises their ceiling, though questions remain in the backcourt. Currently, the starting lineup should look something as follows:

PG: Kevin Porter Jr.

SG: Gary Trent Jr.

SF: Kyle Kuzma

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo

C: Myles Turner

6th man: Bobby Portis.