In case you may have missed it, the Milwaukee Bucks made a bold decision Tuesday that could have serious short- and long-term ramifications: Signing free agent center Myles Turner to a $107 million deal (over four years), but waiving-and-stretching guard Damian Lillard ($113 million over two years) less than two calendar years after acquiring him in a multi-team blockbuster.
Turner was, by far, the best free agent big available. But the Bucks will be allocating nearly $50 million per season to both players, including $22.5 million to Lillard for the next five years.
Lillard, who turns 35-years-old later this month, will miss most of, if not the entirety of the 2025-26 season due to rupturing his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of their first-round series against Turner’s Indiana Pacers. Now, Lillard will spend most of the season rehabbing, whether he’s with a new team or not.
Lillard requested a trade to the Heat in the summer of 2023, but got dealt to Milwaukee; to nobody’s surprise, his name was already being linked to the Heat upon getting waived, even though he’s in no rush to make a decision because he’s still going to get his guaranteed money anyway.
Even though they’re clearly shifting younger, should they take a flyer on the soon-to-be 35-year-old coming off an achilles injury? Vote below!
**********************
A few pros:
- Good mentor for young backcourt (Kasparas Jakucionis, Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, etc.).
- Bam! Dame! Together!!!!
- Add him at an inexpensive price.
- If he’s still good offensively in 2026-27, he could be a valuable trade asset if the Heat aren’t competing.
- Who are they going to use that money for anyway in the summer of 2026?
A few cons:
- Well, he may be 36 when can play again as an aging star.
- Heat would have to clear a roster spot and be creative in order to add a player who may miss the entire season.
- Coming an achilles injury is never easy.
- What if he ends up blocking some of the young players in 2026-27, especially if any pop this upcoming season?
**********************
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- Miami Heat: Pelle Larsson’s Summer League departure creates more opportunity for Kasparas Jakucionis
- Why the Miami Heat should take a flyer on Richaun Holmes
- 2025 NBA Summer League: Miami Heat (0-2) vs. Boston Celtics (2-0) Gamethread
- 8 former Heat players make Bleacher Report’s top-100
- 2025 NBA Summer League: Miami Heat (0-1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1) Gamethread
- Latest Heat acquisition is another extension-eligible question they must solve
- Report: Heat expected to keep Andrew Wiggins heading into 2025-26
Yes if the heat doesn’t sign damian lillard pat riley should be fired heat should Trade or waive dru smith an terry rozier
Dru is not currently on the roster. Trading Rozier would not be impossible, but would be difficult.
Waive and stretch Love.
would he rather play with steph quitter and co in hometown or jimmyless mediocre heat team in beautiful so fla,think perfect fit is with lebron and luka.chances of him coming here are slim to none.if quitter was actually trying last year thats a diff story
Two year contract at veteran’s minimum. Bucks pay the difference. One year of rehab with Miami’s best doctors. Second year is to test his recovery. If positive, Heat can negotiate a 2-3 year extension at a reasonable/mutually satisfactory amount.
They will need to waive and buyout a player on an expiring contract and spread their salary over a few years in order to open up a spot on the roster and free up $.
Sound like a plan or what?
Or, as mentioned, trade a player into somebody’s cap space for a conditional second round pick that we’ll never get. Teams often will have enough space to absorb $3-6 million. Highsmith or Jaquez could work.
give me one reason hed consider coming here.believe dame is ringless
If there would be a 10 % chance, to Lillard be an old himselves its worth of risk.
If we could make a move/trade on someone like SLO-mo for, say, a future second round pick, AND Lillard was willing to accept something near the veteran’s minimum, sure. Low risk, high reward.
Whatever Miami pays him comes off the top. Bucks still on the hook for the rest. Might as well pay him minimum. Better Milwaukee’s money than Miami’s.