NBA free agency starts with a Bucks stunner. Plus: Fever win a title
Good morning! Zach Harper's here to lead things off today. And we're sending best wishes to the 🐐, Red Panda. Get well soon!
Big surprise news hit the NBA world yesterday morning: Myles Turner is leaving the Indiana Pacers for the Milwaukee Bucks on a four-year, $107 million contract. We thought, 'Wow! I can't believe he's leaving! The Pacers were supposed to make bringing him back a priority! And now Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting some unexpected help!'
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Then we took a breath and wondered how in the Bernie Madoff the Bucks were going to be able to afford Turner. They didn't have the cap flexibility to outright sign someone like this, and Damian Lillard's $54 million contract next season (while he can't play due to an Achilles tear) was a big reason everybody started wondering if Giannis would finally ask for a trade to less-injured pastures. Then the other shoe dropped.
The Bucks are waiving Dame and 'stretching' the final two years and $113 million owed to him. What does that mean for him and the Bucks and the money? Is this a good move? Will this work? I'm happy to talk to myself and answer these questions.
What does waiving and stretching Damian Lillard mean?
He's off the team. They've essentially cut him, but his money is guaranteed and still on the salary cap. 'Stretching' his money divides what's left on the deal over the next five seasons instead of the next two.
Is that smart?
It's a risk. They were going to have one-third of the cap eaten up by Lillard the next two seasons. He wasn't going to play one of those, and he probably wasn't going to be himself for much of the second season. Now, the Bucks have more flexibility, but about 15 percent of the cap each of the next five seasons is still dead money from Dame's deal.
What does Dame do now?
He's a free agent when he clears waivers. The 34-year-old can sign wherever he wants to sign. But he still has to rehab this serious injury and that usually takes about a year.
Can the Bucks compete with Turner on the roster now?
Things are better than they were. Turner replaces Brook Lopez, and he's a more versatile defender. They still don't have a lead guard and likely won't add anybody significant. They're hoping Kevin Porter Jr. converts the talent into consistency. Cleveland, Orlando, New York, Boston (still), Detroit, a healthy Philadelphia and maybe now Atlanta are all teams Milwaukee might be behind still in the crowded East.
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This was all super helpful and you seem nice and fun and like you have great hair. Can I read more of your work?
Thank you! Yes, you can! Subscribe to The Bounce, my free NBA newsletter!
Thank you, Zach. Onward…
Penn bans trans athletes
Transgender athletes at the University of Pennsylvania will no longer be able to compete for the school's women's teams following a new agreement between the university and the U.S. Department of Education. The university will also strip transgender competitors of historical credit for past accomplishments, including the three program records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season. Read more here.
Upsets everywhere at Wimbledon
An eye-popping number of seeded players crashed out in the first round at the All England Club — 13 on the men's side, a record, and 10 on the women's. Yesterday, No. 2 seed Coco Gauff fell to Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, and compatriot Jessica Pegula (No. 3) lost to world No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto. No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev was the highest-ranked men's upset, falling to world No. 70 Arthur Rinderknech. American Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, finished the job against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after their match was suspended Monday night.
Our tennis staff has a full Day 2 roundup, plus today's best matches to watch. (Reminder: This and all links below are free to read.)
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📺 MLB: Yankees at Blue Jays
7:07 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Remember when Toronto was a mess this offseason? Vlad Guerrero Jr. is happy and the Jays are just one game back of the division-leading Yanks. This one is big for the standings and general morale.
📺 Gold Cup: USMNT vs. Guatemala
7 p.m. ET on FS1
The Americans are in good shape results-wise, but the vibes are still iffy with this crew. A win here does land them a spot in Sunday's final, though. A strong simultaneous viewing option: The USWNT has a friendly tilt against Canada at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT, TruTV and Max).
Get tickets to games like these here.
I hope you had a lovely Bobby Bonilla Day. What's that? Catch up with our explainer, heavy on the deferrals.
The Lakers are once again at the center of the NBA offseason, as Dan Woike wrote. Dan's been great. Make time for this one.
Enjoyed the premiere of 'No Free Lunch,' The Athletic's newest podcast, where Ndamukong Suh chatted with Candace Parker about how WNBA players are maximizing their earning potential. Watch it here.
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Great question in Richard Deitsch's mailbag: Does Fox hate college football? Read his answer on that and more.
This was better than most GOAT debates we have today: Jim Rice made the case for the late Dave Parker as the best baseball player he's ever seen.
After the Yankees announced their excellent George Costanza bobblehead, Brooks Peck put together some 2025 MLB bobblehead superlatives. I'm partial to the Swanson power couple tribute.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith should probably be in the NFL right now. But despite accomplishing, well, nearly everything there is in college football, he insists he's not done.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The Club World Cup bracket.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Our NBA offseason live blog. Checks out.
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