Damian Lillard went to bed on Monday night trapped on a sinking ship. He was a member of a Milwaukee Bucks team desperately trying to reshape its roster to appease Antetokounmpo without him, as Lillard will presumably miss most or all of the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

Indiana was not willing to pay. Then, in a cold and bold move, the Milwaukee Bucks stepped up and waived-and-stretched the $112.6 million still owed Damian Lillard — out most or all of next season with a torn Achilles — and used that money to sign Turner to a four-year, $104 million contract.

Damian Lillard's Feelings Revealed After Being Waived by Bucks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks officially waived Damian Lillard, stretching the remaining $113 million of his contract over five years.