The NBA free agency market has been very busy and a new name was added to it on Tuesday. After signing Myles Turner, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to waive and stretch Damian Lillard to open up cap space. That has given the Los Angeles Lakers a major opportunity.
Adding Lillard would be a very intriguing option for the Lakers. However, there were questions about whether or not Rob Pelinka would have interest.
Now, there is an answer to those questions.
Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the bench during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum on February 12, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the bench during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum on February 12, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
According to a report from The Athletic, Los Angeles is among the teams who are interested in signing Lillard sooner rather than later. It sure sounds like the Lakers have thrown their hat into the ring.
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“Not surprisingly, league sources say Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks’ ending broke,” the report read. “League sources say the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are known to be among the many teams that would have interest in doing a deal sooner rather than later.”
Lillard heading to Los Angeles would keep him on the west coast. That hasn’t been reported to be a top priority for him, but it’s a prime destination for free agents.
While he’s recovering from a torn Achilles, a report came out that Lillard might be able to return at some point during the 2025-26 season. If that is the case, he would be joining forces with LeBron James and Luka Doncic to compete for a championship.
In the 58 games that Lillard played with the Bucks during the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 44.8 percent and knocking down 37.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
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Even though he is 34 years old, Lillard is still one of the best point guards in the NBA. It is no surprise that he has a big market despite recovering from an Achilles injury.
Pelinka and the Lakers are an interesting destination, but they also have other holes to fill. Los Angeles needs to find a new starting center and the team also needs to add more perimeter defense. Lillard might end up being too expensive.
Expect to hear a lot more about Lillard in the coming days. At least for now, the Lakers are among the teams with a chance to sign him.
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