Myles Turner Joins the Bucks, Damian Lillard's Future Uncertain"

In a surprising turn of events on the first day of NBA free agency, Myles Turner has finalized a four-year contract to join the Milwaukee Bucks, wherein the team waived nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard to facilitate this move. After a decade with the Indiana Pacers, Turner's new deal includes a player option, allowing him to explore further opportunities in the future while he transitions from a franchise that recently reached the NBA Finals.

Lillard, on the other hand, will receive the remaining US$112.6 million owed to him over the next five years due to the NBA’s stretch provision. Having suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during playoffs, he is expected to miss most of the upcoming season and is now free to choose his next team, with the hope that he can return to full strength by the start of the 2026-27 season.

In addition, Indiana's decision was influenced heavily by the injury to star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who will also miss the upcoming season. In the midst of these changes, Lillard’s agent stated that the situation allows him to recover while considering his future options.

Turner leaves behind a solid track record with the Pacers, where he averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds over ten seasons, a lengthy period marked by consistent performance. Meanwhile, Lillard, who turns 35 soon, has achieved remarkable statistics with an average of 25.1 points and 6.7 assists over his career, having played his first 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before moving to Milwaukee.

Other significant developments in free agency include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander securing a record four-year, US$285 million extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the highest single-season average salary in NBA history and establishing him as a remarkable player after a season that saw him win MVP, Finals MVP, and a scoring title all in one year.

In additional signings, Duncan Robinson will reunite with his college roots, heading to the Detroit Pistons on a three-year, US$48 million deal, while veteran guard Dennis Schröder is set to join the Sacramento Kings with a three-year US$45 million contract. Meanwhile, Tim Hardaway Jr. has plans to sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets after spending the previous season with the Detroit Pistons.

Finally, Jakob Poeltl has verbally agreed to terms on a lucrative four-year contract extension with the Toronto Raptors, resulting in a significant increase in his average annual salary to about US$26 million. Coming off a season in which he reached career-high averages of 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, Poeltl has secured both financial stability and his place with the Raptors for the foreseeable future.