If you’re the Miami Heat, would you entertain signing Damian Lillard to a multi-year deal? (Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages)
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!
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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’s 36 and he’s 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?
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