Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Myles Turner has agreed to a four-year deal to join the Milwaukee Bucks, who waived nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard to make the acquisition happen, a person with knowledge of the moves told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Turner is agreeing to a deal that ends with a player option, after spending the entirety of his first 10 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, which went to the NBA Finals this past season. And the remaining $112.6 million owed to Lillard will be paid out over the next five seasons via the NBA’s stretch provision, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither move was announced by the clubs involved.
ESPN, which first reported the plan by the Pacers and Bucks, said Turner agreed to a contract worth $107 million.
In both cases, Achilles tendon injuries played a role in the surprising moves.
Indiana expects to be without star guard Tyrese Haliburton for the entirety of the coming season because he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder while playing through what was diagnosed as a calf strain. And earlier in the playoffs, Lillard ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Milwaukee in Round 1 against Indiana.
Lillard also is likely to miss most, if not all, of the coming season. He will be free to sign with anyone he chooses, and teams could simply sign him now, give him a chance to continue his recovery and do so with hope that the seven-time All-NBA selection is fully ready to go by the start of the 2026-27 season.
Turner has averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in his 10 seasons with the Pacers, who had a decision to make this summer about whether to surpass the luxury tax threshold with the knowledge that Haliburton likely cannot play this coming season.
Lillard, who turns 35 later this month, has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists in 900 regular-season games over 13 seasons—the first 11 with Portland, the last two with Milwaukee.
The Bucks lost Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Clippers when free agency opened Monday.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
As a fan, this makes me sad. But good for him!
Unfortunately, it looks like the Pacers are planning a “No Haliburton, why try?” laydown season this fall.
I’m happy for Myles. I’m also happy for the Pacers.
The Simons cheap out again. They probably made stupid money during the playoff run and with Caitlin Clark in house. Who is going to play center now? I don’t blame the front office…this is 100% on Simon being a lying cheapskate.
Turner apparently turned down $95 million from the Pacers.
I’d trust Pritchard to have something in place when Haliburton comes back.
Myles is a good player and an even better man. He gave 10 years of hard work to the city and I am sorry to see him leave. However, at this stage in his career it’s best for everyone that he moves on now, takes the big paycheck and hopefully finds ways to improve the weaker parts of his game by watching Giannis every day. The Pacers have Jackson returning, possibly Wiseman, and a great front office who will figure out what comes next. Trust the process. Oh, and any silly comments about Herb being cheap are ridiculous. There is no one on the planet who wants to see the Pacers win a title more than Herb Simon.
Herb is cheap.
Anyone who thinks Herb Simon is cheap is talking through their hat.
He is always willing to spend what it takes.
Management made a business decision and Herb does not override his management team.
That is what good leadership does…not making emotional decisions that are in conflict in the best long term interests for the team. Smaller market teams do not have the luxury of a making sentimental gestures.
Pacers haven’t paid the tax in over a decade. You have no clue what you’re talking about.
Are you serious? Simon has never been “willing to spend what it takes”. Are you living on planet earth?