Milwaukee Bucks Make Moves to Keep Giannis Happy

The Bucks are taking steps to ensure that Giannis Antetokounmpo feels settled in Milwaukee, even if it means parting ways with some intriguing trade targets.

In a significant move, Milwaukee has signed former Pacer center Miles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal that includes player options and a 15% trade kicker, as reported by ESPN.

The franchise has seemingly moved on from guard Damian Lillard, who’s sidelined with a torn Achilles, and extended contracts over the next five seasons to facilitate the new deal.

Interestingly, some of the Bucks’ key players are reportedly unhappy about the decision to let Lillard go, according to insights from Chris Haynes.

This transaction is one of the most striking since the start of NBA free agency on Monday.

Turner, now 29, has just wrapped up his tenth season in the NBA.

While information cascaded about Lillard’s contract, which was approximately $40 million for two years, the Pacers were hesitant due to luxury tax implications.

In Milwaukee, there has been speculation swirling about Antetokounmpo’s future, especially after repeated early playoff exits left some wondering if he’d want to stay.

While the Bucks acquired Lillard prior to the current season, their performance hasn’t been stellar, failing to see any playoff victories with him and Antetokounmpo on the court.

Lillard, who just turned 35, has effectively given up around $122.6 million over two years with the team.

If this trade doesn’t resonate well with Antetokounmpo, it could lead to complications for the Bucks moving forward.

Bringing Turner into the fold provides Milwaukee with a big man who has shown improvement with age.

In fact, Turner’s best season came in 2023, where he averaged 18 points per game, alongside over 7.5 rebounds. Last season, he posted averages of 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and he previously led the NBA in blocks during both the 2019 and 2021 seasons.