Damian Lillard Waived, Myles Turner Acquired by Bucks on Busy Opening Day of Free Agency

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott, 2025 Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks were busy on the first day of 2025 NBA Free Agency on Tuesday, as the club waived guard Damian Lillard and acquired former Indiana Pacer center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. 

In the deal, the Bucks will stretch the remaining $113 million Lillard’s contract to be able to obtain Turner, who they agreed with on a four-year, $107 million deal. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Turner’s new contract includes a player option for 2028-29 and a 15% trade kicker.

With Lillard, the Bucks’ stretching of his deal means that over the next five years they will pay him $22.5 million. This is accomplished via the “stretch provision” which the Bucks obtain because they waived Lillard prior to August 29.  

In the 2024-25 season, Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks on 39.6% from 3-point range, which was a career-high. He shot 48.1% overall in 2024-25. At 29 years old, he was the longest tenured Pacer, drafted eleventh overall to Indiana in 2015. 

Turner, who can stretch the floor and block shots but does not necessarily rebound well, is one of three players in NBA history (Brook Lopez and Rasheed Wallace the others) to record at least 700 3-pointers and 1,400 blocked shots. 

Other Moves 

Monday evening was also busy, with numerous deals made around the league. 

The Denver Nuggets traded forward Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Cam Johnson, a deal that gives the Nuggets more defense on the perimeter. 

The Memphis Grizzlies re-signed Jaren Jackson Jr. to a five-year, $240 million deal, keeping the 25-year-old in Memphis now long term. JJJ averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds on 48.8% shooting in 2024-25. The Grizzlies also re-signed forward Santi Aldama, a productive player, to a three-year, $52.5 million contract. Ty Jerome also heads to the Grizzlies on a three-year, $28 million deal. 

The Atlanta Hawks acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade deal and agreed with the “3 and D” guard on a four-year, $62 million deal. The Hawks also signed sharpshooter Luke Kennard to a one-year deal worth $11 million. Both deals continue an active and productive offseason for the Hawks as they also acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics last week. 

The Houston Rockets signed center Clint Capela to a three-year, $21.5 million deal, and forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million deal, helping to fortify their depth and perimeter defense. 

The Dallas Mavericks received needed help at the point guard position with the signing of D’Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million deal. Russell will help the Mavericks as they navigate most of 2025-26 without Kyrie Irving. 

Guard Jordan Clarkson, after clearing waivers after being bought out by the Utah Jazz, will likely sign with the New York Knicks, according to Charania. Clarkson will give the Knicks much needed depth on their bench and a much needed scorer off the bench. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder re-signed regular season and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a four-year, $285 million contract. It is the richest in NBA history at $71 million per year. 

Dennis Schroder and the Sacramento Kings agreed on a three-year, $45 million deal. Schroder is a solid veteran pickup for the Kings, who are also said to be interested in Russell Westbrook. 

The Toronto Raptors and Jakob Poeltl agreed on a $104 million deal over four years. The deal will keep Poeltl, a talented forward-center, with the team through 2029-30.

It has been a busy twenty-four hours in the NBA with more news to come and big names surely to be moved.