Did the Milwaukee Bucks Make the Right Move in Waiving Damian Lillard? | The Rich Eisen Show

The situation is fluid in the NBA. It’s very, very fluid. Very, very fluid. Um Damen Lillard blew out his Achilles and the uh the uh um Bucks cut him today so they could sign Miles Turner from Indianapolis to a 104 million dollar deal. Um, and in case you think you Giannis is sitting there going, “Well, uh, love Damen, but he’s not playing next year, and I I need to win a championship.” And Miles Turner, uh, joining us makes us better, and certainly gives us a better chance to beat the Pacers at least next year. Right.
Right.
Um, and they signed Bobby Poris and they’re they’re being aggressive. They’re not just standing pat here. So, is he happy or not with it? And the answer according to Chris Haynes is um not happy with the decision to wave Damen Lillard. Perhaps the reason why he wasn’t happy is he might have learned from Damian what Chris Hayes Chris Haynes also reported uh that uh the Bucks didn’t call to tell him that he just learned it from uh from looking at his phone or somebody calling him up and telling him. Not named anybody with the Bucks. Um and you’d think maybe Damen Lillard’s all pissed about it. Well, Sam Aik has that side of the story. Sam saying that he’s quote unquote elated with the decision. Puts Lillard in the kind of basketball first position that few all-star levels players, if any, have experienced in league history will be able to join a contending team of his choosing.
Yeah. Either sometime soon or perhaps next summer without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part. Sources say Lillard received calls from several contending teams already. Check all about story out on his uh his app of the athletic
plus 22 million a year. Well, you know,
for not playing for a team.
I don’t think it’s going to upset you.
Not going to hurt.
Elated. Yeah, I’m chilling.
Okay. Might have been just like, “Wow, that’s that’s that’s zero chill.” Then he just like maybe it was like that Alonzo morning. You’re like, “Well, you know, I mean, that’s cold.” Well, I’m getting 22 million a year and now I can go where the hell I want.
Go where you want.
All right.
Write your own story.
Wow.
It’s actually a good spot for him the position that he’s in right now when you think about it.
Are the Bucks better? Yay or nay? Chris Brockman. Are the Bucks better?
No. No. Will Lillard next year?
No. Brook Lopez. Get back Turner. Are they better? They might be in the same spot they were last year. I’m trying to see who Jefferson I’m trying to see if they’re going to have running point next year. Um I’m trying to pull up there. Are you ever better losing a Dame Lillard, though? I I You’re not going to be better without him on your team. So, no, they’re not going to be better.
Well, the most important running point is the one on Netflix that I’m appearing in a couple of episodes which got
which you can see right here on Roku. Huh. which got picked up for
I mean it’s the rich eyes and bum.
Are you Are you coming back?
I have no not I haven’t had a
Are you coming back?
I don’t know. I mean I’m I’m available. I’m
saying you need to come
is available to run point.
Dame’s going to be 35 next offseason. Yep.
So they got Kevin Porter Jr. right now listed as the as a point guard. Yeah. I I don’t know.
I think Miles Turner makes him better. How does that sound?
I mean he’s going to be able to buy a lot of Legos with that new contract. And plus, you know, if Giannis maybe just sit back and understand, you took him from Indianapolis to bring him to Milwaukee.
Right. Exactly.
You took him from the Pacers, the Indiana Pacers. So, you know,
and maybe maybe Mile, you can find out from Miles who took his basketball.
That’s a good point. Also, Rich, imagine you’re a Pacers fan, right? Like, you get to the finals, you you’re you’re one game away, then everything crumbles, and now in addition to losing Hallebertton, now you’ve lost the longest tenure player on the team. I don’t think Pacers fans are probably real happy.
$104 million is a lot of money. That is that is nine figures for miles.
Eastern Conference odds to win uh the conference.
Let me guess. Let me guess.
Um Knicks are number one.
Uh Knicks and Cavs are about the same. Cavs are plus 260. Knicks plus 290.
Okay. Then comes Orlando.
Orlando, correct? Plus 420. Then comes Boston.
Uh Atlanta has had a really good off seasonason. And so they’ve jumped the Celtics. They’re 10 to1.
Okay.
Celtics 11 to1. Sixers 11 to1.
Hey,
Pistons 13 to1. Bucks 21 to1. Indiana 24 to1.
Nobody talking about the Sixers, which I mean we haven’t given them reason to.
But you you look at it now. Embiid took the time off to get surgery, get, you know, whatever things he needed to fix fixed.
I’m sure it’s all fixed.
Probably not. But, you know, you look at the team, Maxi, Edgecom, George, Embiid, you know, like
good team on on paper.
On paper, I I feel good on paper. Of course, we got to see it’s all about the health with this squad.
But we got a decent squad.
Embiid won’t play a backtoback the rest of his life, right? I probably should
for his remaining days.
No doubt. Why would he
ever? So, if the Sixers aren’t a backtoback, everybody, you know,
don’t don’t buy those. Check your local listings and find out which one you should get.
Can’t wait to buy tickets. Yeah, I said I worry about that. I’m worried about staying healthy throughout the year. Catch the Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from 12 to 3:00 p.m.

Rich Eisen reacts to the Milwaukee Bucks waiving Damian Lillard.

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28 comments

  2. I get waiving him, but you do things the right way. This is a people business, it will cost you with every deal you make if players don't trust you. That $22MM will get cut down if a team signs him for more than the minimum right? Like if he signed for $30MM with a new team, then it is 30-3.3 (min) =26.7 which is then cut in half to 13.35 so Bucks would owe like 22.5-13.35 =$9.15 million cap hit. So Dame would be taking home close to $40MM anyway… crazy stuff.

  3. Lets be honest, good and very good guards almost grow on trees.

    Dame was making twice what he was actually worth BEFORE he was a 35 year old with a torn achilles.

  8. Absolutely 1000% yes anyone who says otherwise doesn't know anything about the Bucks and what Dame hasn't done to help Giannis get to another Finals. Dame didn't earn any respect in Milwaukee good riddance. The fact we signed Turner to replace Lopez was an enormous move. I love Lopez and he was such a huge part of the Bucks winning the title. I hope Lopez has success with the Clippers but he was no longer a starter and was more of a liability. We also resigned Portis, KPJ, Gary Trent, and Prince. Horst is cooking and I'm happy as a lifelong Bucks fan.

  12. If people think the Bucks are better now with a player that averaged more turnovers than 3pts in the last two playoffs in Myles Turner than without Dame and Lopez, just stop talking about sports.

  14. Why should he not be happy ? The NBA is business. The Bucks hunting titles now. The Bucks paid Dame and gave him the opportunity to do what he wants. If my employer did that I’d be happy. If I was a player I’d say the Bucks is good organization to play for. If I was Giannis I’d be happy I have some Billionaires opening they check book getting me what I need to win. National media wants Giannis somewhere else. Now a trade or two and the Bucks retooled great.

  15. Idk man they're locked into paying dame 20 mill a year for 5 years to play somewhere else. Ik the fit with Giannis didn't work like we thought but paying that much for a guy not on the team can't sit right

  23. bucks are in a better position. they pay 22m to have the bad contract of Lillard out, but that contract was loosing. 50m for a player that contributes for half.
    insane that Giannis does not acknowledge Bucks' effort

  28. Dame hurt at the beginning of the year dont know how long he going to be back. Their biggest mistake was trading for kyle kuzma …he wont help at all. They might as well trade Giannis and start over

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