Latest news with #JonHorst
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bucks GM Jon Horst on retaining Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis and signing Cole Anthony
LAS VEGAS — As long as two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo dons the green and cream, the big picture is always going to be most important for the Milwaukee Bucks. For that reason, large ideas took up Part 1 of The Athletic's conversation with Bucks general manager Jon Horst. The outlook for next season, including an overview of the offseason, the vision moving forward and potential changes to the team's style of play, were the first topics on the docket, but the new collective bargaining agreement has made all of the small details crucial. If the team is going to find success in the coming years, they will need players up and down the roster to make an impact and outperform their contracts. Advertisement Those minor details make up the second part of the conversation. Rather than taking a closer look at the rationale behind signing free-agent center Myles Turner, today's conversation takes a closer look at the importance of the team's shooting guards, the upside in a point guard room headlined by three players younger than 25, improving the situation for the veterans on the wing and what the return of fan favorite Bobby Portis could mean to the Bucks this season. (This interview was lightly edited for clarity.) In the first part of this interview, we talked about the importance of surrounding Antetokounmpo with 3-point shooters. You've decided to bring back Gary Trent Jr., and you'll also have AJ Green. How much did their strong playoff performances mean to you in committing to them in the future and maybe their projections moving forward? From an analytics perspective, I care a great deal about the data; you know that. You want a big enough sample size where it's not a bet, but a certainty. I don't know that we have that level of sample size on some of those lineups yet, but I will tell you that in the playoffs and throughout the course of the regular season, some of our highest net rating lineups, both because they were elite offensively and they were very good defensively, had AJ Green, Gary Trent, Giannis, Kevin Porter Jr. and Bobby Portis in them. And, in fact, the AJ, Gary, Kevin, and Giannis lineup, that four-man lineup, was as good as any four-man lineup against the Pacers the entire playoffs. Now, I wish that it would have been more than the first round and we moved on and they didn't. So we didn't get to test that as much as we wanted, but sometimes you have to take as much information as you have and make the best bets that you can. So, there's some data — not as much as I would like — behind those lineups, that style of play and what it can do against really, really hard teams to guard against and play against like the Indiana Pacers, who went to the NBA Finals and lost in seven games. So there's no question that we took that sample size, we took the sample size for the regular season that we had, and we went in and we bet on it. Advertisement I think Gary Trent had his two best games of the season, maybe, in our two most important games of the season. In two closeout opportunities, the guy played unbelievable. And AJ Green was unbelievable also, and I think that says a lot about them. And don't forget, these guys are 25, 26 years old, so they're just entering their prime. And so I think the best is in front of those guys. I'm happy about them. They're not just shooters. They're tough, physical guys that can grind and defend, make a play off the bounce and those guys are going to be a lot better this year than they were last year. AJ Green has been extension-eligible for more than a week now. What have those conversations been like and how confident are you that you will be able to get an extension done with him? First and foremost, the day that he became officially eligible to have extension conversations, he was the first call I made. I called him. We didn't dive deep into negotiations, but I just told him how much we love him, believe in him, and want him here long term. And I did the same thing with his agent, Matt Bollero, who I love and respect in this business. And so we've already made the contact. AJ wants to be here, AJ wants to figure something out. Obviously, we've got to figure a deal out and we have the whole season to do it. I hope it doesn't take that long. I think they hope it doesn't take that long either, but as the dust starts to settle on a pretty busy offseason, that'll be the most important thing for us to figure out with AJ. And I know he feels the same about trying to figure it out with us. At the trade deadline last season, you acquired Kevin Porter Jr., and after he declined his player option for this upcoming season, he signed a larger deal with you. I'm not sure if you'd go as far as saying you believe he is your starting point guard next season, but it feels like a massive opportunity for him. What led to your belief and trust in him to bring him back for a second season with the Bucks? He's another player that I think stepped up in the biggest moments in the playoffs. With no playoff experience, he came into a very hostile environment, pressure-loaded environment, and I thought was very, very good. He plays well off of Giannis, and people forget that a few years ago he was one of the best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooters in the league. He's big, he's physical, he can create for himself, he can create for others and can make shots. And he grew defensively with us this year, and I think he's very capable on that end. Advertisement Whether he's our starter or not our starter, that's for Doc (Rivers) to decide, but obviously we've invested in him and we want him around. We've tried to create a situation where he has a chance to thrive and grow, and if so, he can have his option and he can benefit from it. But for us to get that continuity of a guard who we thought played well with us after we acquired him was huge and I think he's primed to have a really big year. He's in the right environment, he's in the right group that loves him and supports him and is to give him the chance to be his best. Kyle Kuzma is coming off one of his least efficient seasons in the NBA. He struggled in the postseason as well. How did you tell him to try to attack this offseason, and what do you see as his pathway for having a more productive season in his second year with the Bucks? First of all, we were intentional, and we talked about this a lot when we did it at the deadline. Kyle was a target and nothing's changed. I think Kyle gives us a chance to play fast, gives us a chance to be huge, play a lot of different big lineups. He's a plus-plus defender at multiple positions and he's a guy that offensively, when he plays with confidence and plays within the flow, is very impactful. We still believe in Kyle. He struggled. He hadn't been to the playoffs in a while either. And I thought he played great for us for most of the regular season after we acquired him and I think he struggled in the playoffs. And he would tell you that. Doc and I have already gone to L.A. to spend time with him. Doc's gonna spend time with him again. I think the biggest thing with Kyle is just getting the familiarity, working with our coaches in the off-season, being part of a training camp and just really building into a system where he understands where he's gonna get his looks, how he can have his impact and where we can understand him better. He's very, very good (at power forward). And so I think getting him more minutes at the four … is going to be helpful. He's a guy we believe in a lot, and I think he's going to have a big year with us this year, just having continuity with a good team and a full offseason with a good team, which he hasn't had in a while. So we're excited for him. Taurean Prince was productive for you in the regular season, but ended up struggling to make that same type of impact in the postseason. What gave you enough confidence in him to bring him back again next season? I think a little bit like Kyle, I think continuity is going to be good for TP. And I think our roster … is better suited for Taurean this year than it was last year. I think Taurean had a hell of a year for us. He was one of the top five in the league in 3-point shooting. Again, a plus defender, a great professional, a great locker-room guy, just someone that you want to be part of your organization, but also can play. He played most of the year guarding ones and twos and being guarded by twos and threes and he should be like a wing-forward, like a three-four. And the way that our team is built now, he's gonna have a lot more of those matchups. Advertisement Probably, he will come off the bench, although who knows, it'll be open competition, but I think if you put him in a position where he's playing against the right positions night in and night out and he's doing it off the bench versus a starter and he can have the same type of production that he had last year, I think it's going to be a home run for us. I'm excited to have him back. Bobby Portis has been such a big part of everything you guys have done over the last five years that it just felt like there was never any doubt he was going to be back next season, but could you talk about how much he means to this team? Well, I'm glad you didn't have any doubt. I did. I was nervous as hell. I did not want to go through a season, a practice, a day without Bobby Portis as part of the team that I'm a part of. I think Bobby is so much the ethos of who we are. He is the underdog. He fights. He grinds. There's no one that cares more, in my opinion, about the Milwaukee Bucks than Bobby. He loves the Milwaukee Bucks. He feels like it's a family, it's a city and a fan base that's embraced him. It's an organization that's embraced him. And he continues to give back to our organization and take less on the margins and do different things here and there. I felt like it was a tough negotiation with his agent, Mark Bartelstein, who I love in this business as much as anybody, and I thought we got to the right place. But it was a tough negotiation. Bobby chose us. Bobby wasn't short on options, but he wanted to be here. He wants to win, and he wants to with this group of guys. He loves playing with Giannis. He loves the things that we've done in free agency. He was high on the guys that we brought back. He and I talked a lot about the roster and just his thoughts on different guys. And I'm just really excited he's with us. We have already discussed Scoot (Kevin Porter Jr.) and bringing him back to Milwaukee for a second season, but you also brought in two other point guards. Let's start with Ryan Rollins. Why did you think he was such a good fit for you moving forward? I thought Ryan played well for us. He had a little bit of a breakout year, like AJ Green the year before. I think they're on similar timelines. I love that he got some playoff experience. I thought he did well in the few minutes that he had. People probably don't think about it a lot, but Ryan had a decision midway through this season to play or not with a pretty serious shoulder situation and he played. That just shows you how tough he is and how committed he is. He played a good half of our season and in the playoffs with a pretty painful shoulder situation, which he's gotten taken care of. It's totally resolved. He is totally healthy now, and that alone I think is going to give him more confidence in fighting through screens defensively and taking hits offensively. But he is a big guard that's physical, that can shoot. He's been coming on as a playmaker, can finish in traffic, and is a good defender on the ball, which we want. I say this all the time and I say this with affection because he is one of my favorite people and I think he'll love this shout-out. he reminds me of George Hill. I think he has a George Hill-type career in front of him and that's high, high praise in my opinion because G-Hill is one of the best people that I've been around. Advertisement For us to be able to invest in him, give him a deal that keeps him with us for a couple of years, it's a bit of a bridge deal. He's got a chance to outplay it, and we'll take care of him, we hope to figure it out at the end, but it gives him some security that I think he's earned. I think Ryan was a important pick-up for us. Doc was pushing for the Ryan pick-up. It's something that we wanted to figure out. In addition to bringing back Scoot and Ryan, you also added Cole Anthony. What do you think he can do for you next season? The idea on Cole is — and you can see a theme — there's another 24, 25-year-old guard. He just turned 25 in May. Cole's an electric scorer. Two years ago, he was in the running for NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In our system, in our metrics, he's performed like a kind of starter, key reserve at different points in his young career. He's electric with the ball, a very capable shooter. I think he can be one of the guys that you've seen year in and year out come into our system and get a higher dose of better shot quality because of playing with Giannis and playing in our system and improve as a shooter. I think he could have a huge shooting year, which would be massive for him and us. And he's just got an edge to him. I hope he takes this as an affectionate thing, and this is true, when I saw the idea of Cole Anthony, him being free and our chance to get him, I think he's like a guard version of Bobby Portis. I think he can bring so much swag and energy to our team. He's capable of winning a game by himself any given night. And I think he'll grow in our system having less possession-by-possession pressure on him playing with Giannis and playing in Doc's system and Doc having been a point guard and being able to mentor him the way he has with Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins. I think he could have a huge year for us and if he does, it will be a great decision for him and a great decision for us.
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What does Myles Turner bring to the Bucks? Breaking down the fit on both ends of the floor
The shock of Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst deciding to waive nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard and stretch the $112 million remaining on his contract over the Bucks' salary cap books for the next five seasons is probably not going to wear off for a bit. The same goes for the cap maneuvers that allowed the Bucks to create cap space to work a deal with Myles Turner, the best free agent center on the market, to a four-year, $107 million deal. The Bucks' roster in the 2025-2026 season will look different because of one of the last decade's most audacious roster moves (and a bevy of other moves, as well). And while the paperwork behind it is quite interesting, there will be basketball played in the fall. Turner will suit up for the Bucks, so let's take a closer look at what makes him a special player. Let's start here. The play above was a sequence that Brook Lopez could not have pulled off last season. To be clear, Lopez is a great player capable of blocking shots and knocking down 3-pointers. In his seven seasons in Milwaukee, Lopez's impact on the Bucks was substantial. He was essential in the Bucks winning the 2021 NBA championship. But in his 17th NBA season, Lopez could not run behind an All-NBA guard to complete a chase-down block and then sprint to the other end to make a left-wing 3 five seconds after the block. Advertisement Like Turner, Lopez can block shots and knock down 3s, but he cannot play at the same pace as the former Indiana Pacer. At 37 years old, no one should have expected him to do so, but plays such as the one above are why it is important to note that Turner (29), being eight years younger than Lopez will allow him to impact the game differently, even if both players share similar strengths. Last season with the Pacers, Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. He knocked down 39.6 percent from deep on 5.5 attempts per game. Despite playing more than a minute and a half fewer per game than Lopez, he bested the Bucks center in each of the listed categories. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pacers were plus-4.7 per 100 possessions in lineups featuring Turner with an offensive rating of 117.4 (72nd percentile) and a defensive rating of 112.7 (70th percentile). Offensively, playing for the Bucks will be much different for Turner. As the Bucks know, after playing them in the NBA playoffs each of the last two seasons, the Pacers' offensive system is based upon constant movement, constant attacking and the ability to effortlessly flow from one action to the next. Turner had the skill to flourish in that environment, so he should be able to make it work in Milwaukee as well, but things will be different. With Giannis Antetokounmpo running the show, the Bucks are not going to play like the Pacers. The two-time MVP does not need a free-flowing and intricate offense to draw help defenders and bend a defense to his will. A simple post-up on the block from one of the game's most dominant players will quickly draw two defenders and create opportunities for teammates and Turner should be able to take advantage of that. Look at how Turner cuts to the open space and then quickly fires off a 3-pointer before the defense arrives for a closeout. That isn't necessarily a movement 3, but for a 6-foot-11, 250-pound big man, that is a strong piece of relocation and good footwork to get his shot off quickly enough before the defense arrives. In a moment where Turner had his feet set and saw a reckless closeout later in the playoffs, he did this: Myles Turner COMING THROUGH 😤😤 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 24, 2025 Turner's mobility could be a real addition to what the Bucks do on offense. Often, when the Bucks would put Lopez into screening actions, he would get called for illegal screens because either ballhandlers moved too quickly for him to get his feet set before setting a screen or defenders would bounce off his massive 7-foot-1, 280-pound frame and it would be assumed he had hit them too hard. This play ends with Turner finishing through tough contact at the rim, but it was set up by the former Pacers center setting three screens in six seconds and helping the Pacers force switches: Turner didn't make contact on the second screen, but he was smart enough to flip it and then seal Mikal Bridges on his roll to the rim to create a passing angle for Haliburton. That is something the Bucks simply didn't have with Lopez. In the NBA Finals, against one of the best defenses of the last quarter century, Turner was unable to help create the same advantages. The Oklahoma City Thunder switched so many actions and played such physical defense that the next cut or screening action that was needed to help create space for the Pacers' playmakers wasn't always obvious. But that will be something that the Bucks can worry about if they advance to the NBA Finals. (And frankly, with Antetokounmpo as the lead playmaker, the Bucks can use brute force better than most teams to create advantages against the Thunder.) Advertisement It will be incumbent upon Bucks head coach Doc Rivers to find ways to use Turner's varied skills, but his willingness and ability to set screens in Indiana could be a real assist for a team that will likely not have traditional shot creators alongside Antetokounmpo. Turner's mobility and intelligence could make him an ideal partner for pindown screens and dribble handoffs for shooters like AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. His ability to pick and pop could be used to help Kyle Kuzma get downhill. Being able to flip screens and avoid fouls might even allow the Bucks to do a big-to-big pick-and-roll/pop with Antetokounmpo getting a chance to be a pick-and-roll ballhandler. There is no doubt that Turner benefited from playing with one of the NBA's elite tablesetters. Per Sportradar, Haliburton assisted on 36 percent of Turner's 390 made field goals. (Antetokounmpo assisted on only 21 percent of Lopez's 394 baskets.) Despite being a big addition, Turner should not be a primary playmaker for the Bucks, but that isn't a bad thing or even unexpected. He can do a lot more than stand above the break waiting for 3-point shots; he has the athleticism, mobility and intelligence to help the Bucks be a better offensive team, even if he isn't making plays with the ball in his hands. The same thing is true defensively. Turner shares some similarities with Lopez. He has averaged at least two blocks per game in six of the last seven seasons and he led the NBA in blocks per game in the 2018-19 (2.7) and 2020-21 (3.4) seasons. Lopez averaged two or more blocks per game four times in his seven seasons with the Bucks. Per Sportradar, Turner defended six shots per game at the rim and forced 2.26 misses last season. Lopez defended five per game and forced 1.92 misses. But while their rim protection numbers are similar, this past season, they did the job differently. Advertisement Per Synergy data, Lopez was in 'soft' coverage on pick-and-rolls (drop) on 60 percent as a screen defender and 'ice' coverage on another 18 percent of possessions. Those coverages correspond to plays where defenses are trying to force opponents inside the 3-point line, but stop them before getting all the way to the rim, which requires strong efforts from players on the ball. While that data shows that Turner was in 'soft' coverage 54 percent of the time as a screen defender, he was only in 'ice' coverage five percent of the time and ended up in 'show' coverage on 25 percent of these possessions. In the end, like Lopez and just about every shot-blocking big man, Turner would love to sit in drop coverage on pick-and-rolls and wait to swat shots at the rim, but that isn't what the modern NBA asks of big men. Bigs have to be able to do different things and while Turner isn't the type of big man who can switch one through five, he is athletic enough to pull off a more diverse variety of coverages. Look at how close to half-court Turner gets on this possession against New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson: The credit for the steal largely needs to be given to Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith for the pressure on the perimeter, but that play doesn't happen without Turner making his way out to the level of the screen a few feet away from halfcourt and backpedaling the whole way to give Nesmith time to catch up to Brunson. Did Turner switch on Brunson and shut him down one-on-one? No. Was it a perfect show-and-recover? Maybe not. But it was a type of coverage that the Bucks would never have been able to consider with Lopez on the floor last season. Turner's agility and mobility will allow the Bucks to be more aggressive at the point of attack in ways that were not possible during the last seven seasons. And while there were times in the NBA Finals when the Pacers opted to go without Turner because of the Thunder's predilection to play smaller lineups and Turner's offensive struggles (6 of 28 from 3), there were also moments where the Bucks' new center was able to effectively wade his way through the sea of screens set by the Thunder and use his agility to effectively show and recover to get a stop: In the end, there is no denying the price the Bucks have paid to get Turner to Milwaukee, a price that will show up on their salary cap sheet for the next five seasons. But as far as Turner's game is concerned, that should be a nearly perfect fit. Not only does Turner have the skills that made Lopez indispensable to the Bucks for seven seasons, but Turner is also younger and more athletic. He might not be the lead ballhandler (Milwaukee will need to continue to search for help in that department) the Bucks lost when Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Milwaukee's first-round loss to the Pacers, but if deployed correctly, Turner will be able to do all the things — plus a few more — that made Lopez one of the Bucks' most important players. And that could allow the Bucks to evolve moving forward. (Photo of Myles Turner and Brook Lopez: Gary Dineen / NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bucks once again go big to win back Giannis — this time with a historic, daring gamble
We've seen this movie before. Giannis Antetokounmpo gets antsy, sending signals that he's not so sure about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks. Longtime general manager Jon Horst gets aggressive, shocking the NBA world with the kind of major move that few, if any, saw coming. Antetokounmpo recommits and leaves all those rival teams that were chasing the two-time MVP crestfallen. Advertisement The Bucks, who plan to waive future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard so that they can add former Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner on a four-year, $107 million deal, are betting on that familiar final scene unfolding again with Antetokounmpo onboard. As star player sagas go, the league has rarely, if ever, seen something as drastic and daring as this. The Bucks, well aware they're on the knife's edge here when it comes to Antetokounmpo's long-term plans, decided to cut ties with Lillard, a 34-year-old nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA team member whose Achilles' tendon tear in late April derailed their plans. Never mind that they still owe him a combined $112 million that will now be stretched across their salary-cap books for the next five seasons (and paid to Lillard in the next two). That amount is not only unprecedented as the largest contract ever to be 'stretched,' but remarkably is nearly three times bigger than the previous leader (the Knicks waived and stretched Joakim Noah when he had $37.8 million remaining on his deal in 2018). Historically speaking, gambles don't get any bigger than this. And the Bucks did it all to land Turner, the 29-year-old who so many believed would re-sign with the Pacers after their surprising NBA Finals run and who might be able to help the Bucks return to relevance in the up-for-grabs Eastern Conference. Their future with the greatest Bucks player of all time depends on it. The question now is whether Antetokounmpo, who has made it so clear that he wants to win more titles during these prime years, sees this latest stunner as the kind of calculated risk that's worth co-signing. He did just that when Horst landed Jrue Holiday in 2020 (en route to the 2021 title) and again with the Lillard trade in 2023. It's yet unclear how the Turner move might change the perspective of Antetokounmpo, who opted not to shut down rumors about his future by dodging the question in his news conference following the Bucks' postseason elimination at the hands of the Pacers on April 29. Advertisement Antetokounmpo has three seasons left on his current deal, with a player option (worth $62.7 million) for the 2027-28 campaign. And while he hasn't done any public posturing that would indicate he wants out of Milwaukee, his choice to stay quiet while the league-wide speculation swirls has been widely seen as a sign of uncertainty. Yet even before the Turner addition, Horst had pulled off a dizzying set of transactions during the first 36 hours of free agency — with the goal of restoring Antetokounmpo's faith in what might lie ahead. Super sixth man Bobby Portis agreed to re-sign on a team-friendly deal (three years, $44 million), which paled in comparison to some of his market comps (Minnesota's Naz Reid, for example, got a five-year, $125 million deal). They managed to hold onto Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims, reaching two-year deals with all four. The loss of beloved big man Brook Lopez to the Clippers was, eventually, mitigated by Turner's arrival. Amid all those concerns that the Bucks roster would be bare by the time Antetokounmpo took a long look at the Milwaukee landscape, there is reason to believe this team could contend. Especially given what's happened elsewhere in the East. With the Pacers already devastated by Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear, and the Bucks making matters worse for Indiana by luring a pivotal piece of its core in Turner, the reigning East champs have already taken a serious step back. The Boston Celtics have been decimated, too, with Jayson Tatum suffering an Achilles tear during their title defense and the team conducting a mini-teardown from there. From Cleveland to New York, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit and beyond, there is no clear-cut favorite. The hope from Milwaukee's standpoint is quite clear: Antetokounmpo squints hard enough to see some light at the end of this Bucks tunnel. With the stakes of this situation so high, and Antetokounmpo working through all of Tuesday's initial confusion while contemplating what comes next, the Bucks' latest make-or-break move was nothing if not audacious. Again. And now it's Turner's turn to play the part of pivotal Bucks newcomer. That he was available at all was a monumental surprise. Advertisement Turner, who was drafted 11th by Indiana in 2015, was the longest-tenured player on a team that was some 41 minutes away from winning it all less than two weeks ago. Heading into the summer as an unrestricted free agent, Turner indicated his intention was always to return to Indiana, and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the finals that re-signing him was the team's top priority. But Indiana was already facing the likelihood next season of playing without Haliburton, who tore his Achilles about seven minutes into Game 7 of the finals, and decided it didn't want to 'overpay' for Turner now, a team source said. The Pacers had signaled a willingness to pay the luxury tax as the offseason neared, but clearly changed that stance in the wake of Haliburton's injury. Indiana's offer to Turner, that source said, never stretched above three years or $20 million per season — well below the deal he struck with the Bucks. Turner's struggles late in the postseason figured into the equation. He had a hard time against both the New York Knicks in the conference finals and then against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals, averaging about 12 points and 3.5 rebounds in those two series on 47-percent shooting (25 percent from 3-point range). 'It's not really all that stunning when you think about it,' said the Pacers source, who added that the team doesn't plan to tank next year with Haliburton sidelined. 'It's a bigger deal because it's Milwaukee — if Myles had gone to Denver or the Clippers, it would be (perceived) totally different as far as (the Pacers) are concerned.' Turner played in 642 regular-season games for the Pacers, averaging 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. He's the team's franchise leader in blocks, is sixth in games played and eighth in minutes played. In the short term, the move is a massive blow to a Central Division rival and a move that makes the Bucks stronger. In essentially swapping Lopez for Turner, Milwaukee gets a center who is eight years younger and affects games in a similar fashion. He's a shot-blocking, 3-point-shooting big man, one with even more mobility than Lopez could muster at his late stage. it's a unicorn stampede now! — Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) July 1, 2025 For Lillard, this is a welcome ending to his time in Milwaukee. As The Athletic reported in early May, Lillard and the Bucks were likely going to discuss whether he wanted to remain with the team after last season if he had remained healthy. From the frustrations that came with the on-court fit to Lillard struggling at times while being so far from his children in Portland, Ore., it was no secret that he wasn't long for Milwaukee. But his injury changed everything, leaving the Bucks, who had few draft assets and no cap room, with seemingly no way out when it came to putting impact players alongside Antetokounmpo. Per league sources, the Bucks made Lillard aware of this potential win-win plan on Sunday. Advertisement League sources say Lillard is elated with the Bucks' decision, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star-level players, if any, have experienced in league history. In short, he'll be able to join the contending team of his choosing, either sometime soon or perhaps next summer, without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part. With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this coming season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during those two years. And while the Bucks would surely prefer that Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is that he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That's a powerful place to be when you're a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship. Not surprisingly, league sources say Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks' ending broke. 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. The question is whether he wants to sign with a team now and rehabilitate while under their care or wait until next summer to reassess the situation. The Bucks, who will have to operate with Lillard's money clogging their books for the next five seasons, are banking on this latest roll of the dice paying off. As the salary cap increases in the coming years, the percentage of the cap that dead money takes up will decrease and become less painful for the Bucks, but it's not going anywhere. It is a reality that Horst, who was given a contract extension shortly after this past regular season, was willing to accept to once again attempt to put the Bucks in the conversation with the other teams vying for the East's top spot. But the possibility of peril has never been greater. With the previous trades for Holiday and then Lillard, the Bucks stripped away nearly all of their draft assets to put themselves in the conversation for the last seven seasons. Now, Horst has taken it a step further. Not only do the Bucks have limited draft capital moving forward, but also they now have $22.5 million less in cap space than they could have had in each of the next five seasons. They'll be paying for Lillard in the 2029-30 season, one or even two years after Turner has completed the contract he will soon sign to join the Bucks. Even with the dangers laid bare for all to see, Horst has decided to once again take a huge chance in trying to persuade Antetokounmpo to remain in Milwaukee and finish out his career as one of the NBA's rarest breeds: a one-team superstar. Advertisement When the Bucks put together the East's best record for the second consecutive season in 2020 behind Antetokounmpo's second NBA MVP, but disappointingly fell to the Miami Heat in the second round, Horst made an aggressive move. He traded starting point guard Eric Bledsoe, along with five first-round picks, to acquire Holiday in an attempt to persuade Antetokounmpo to sign a five-year supermax contract. It worked. Antetokounmpo signed the largest contract in NBA history one month after the trade and then led the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021, the franchise's first since 1971. When the Bucks put together the league's best record but got upset by the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in the first round in 2023, Horst made an aggressive move again to assure Antetokounmpo the organization was still committed to competing for championships. He traded Holiday, the Bucks' starting point guard and a hero of the 2021 championship run, and three first-round picks for Lillard, one of the top 75 players in NBA history. It worked. Antetokounmpo signed an extension one month later, adding two more guaranteed years to his deal and a player option that could keep him in Milwaukee through the 2027-28 season, which would be his 15th season with the team. But the Bucks did not find the same on-court success as they did in 2021, getting eliminated in the first round each of the last three seasons, including the last two with Lillard, while dealing with injuries to their biggest contributors. After a bitter ending to the Bucks' 2024-25 campaign made Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee appear more precarious than ever, Horst has doubled down on the Antetokounmpo era yet again. With the whole league hoping Antetokounmpo was going to ask out, and rival teams making some decisions in real time this offseason with the goal of landing him in mind, Horst did what he has always done and took extreme measures to persuade Antetokounmpo to stay in the only NBA home he's ever known. Will it work once again? — The Athletic's Danny Leroux contributed to this story (Top illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; John Fisher / Getty, Garrett Ellwood / Getty)
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bucks Waive Damian Lillard, Dump $113 Million Contract To Sign Myles Turner On $107 Million Deal
Bucks Waive Damian Lillard, Dump $113 Million Contract To Sign Myles Turner On $107 Million Deal originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In what might go down as the boldest move of the 2025 NBA offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks have executed a jaw-dropping double swing of roster reshuffling. As first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, free agent center Myles Turner has signed a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks, which includes a player option in the final year and a 15% trade kicker. Advertisement Simultaneously, Milwaukee has waived Damian Lillard, stretching the remaining $113 million on his deal over five years to clear room for Turner's arrival. The shockwaves hit instantly. Turner, who had spent his entire career with the Indiana Pacers, was reportedly determined to remain with the franchise after their Finals run. He averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 48.1% from the field and a career-best 39.6% from three this past season. His elite shot blocking and floor spacing had made him a cornerstone in Indiana. But with Tyrese Haliburton's injury expected to sideline him for most, if not all, of next season, Indiana reportedly pulled back from a hefty long-term offer, fearing the luxury tax. That created an opening, and Bucks GM Jon Horst pounced. Advertisement Working closely with CAA's Austin Brown, Milwaukee pulled off a stunning financial maneuver. By waiving and stretching Lillard's deal, the Bucks reduced his cap hit to roughly $22.6 million per year over five seasons till the 2029-30 season. This gives the Bucks less flexibility year-to-year, but enough room this offseason to make a splash for Turner without hard-capping themselves under the new CBA. But this allowed them to sign Turner outright without sacrificing future draft picks or young talent, an incredibly rare feat in today's tightly capped NBA landscape. Lillard's exit ends a turbulent two-year stint in Milwaukee. After being acquired in a blockbuster deal in 2023, he struggled with injuries and chemistry issues alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Advertisement A torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs sealed his fate, as his recovery timeline remains uncertain. While his leadership and clutch ability will be missed, the Bucks decided they couldn't afford to wait on a 35-year-old guard with an uncertain future and a massive salary. Instead, they're going all-in on Giannis and Turner, a pairing that gives Milwaukee perhaps the league's most fearsome defensive frontcourt. Turner's ability to stretch the floor gives Giannis much-needed space in the paint, while his rim protection allows Giannis to freelance more aggressively on defense. The Bucks still have their $5 million bi-annual exception and a few tradeable pieces, meaning more moves are likely to come. Perhaps the most critical consequence of this move? It solidifies Giannis' future in Milwaukee. Rumors had swirled earlier this offseason that Giannis was, for the first time in his career, open to exploring other teams. But with the aggressive reshuffling and a renewed commitment to surrounding him with versatile, high-IQ players, those whispers have gone silent. Advertisement In a league where superstars increasingly control the narrative, the Bucks just flipped the script. They sacrificed a fading superstar, landed a younger frontcourt anchor, and made a statement: Milwaukee isn't waiting to win, they're acting now. This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bucks draft mailbag: Trade into first round? Deal No. 47? Buy another pick?
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft occurs Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in New York City. For the time being, though, the Milwaukee Bucks do not have a first-round pick. Barring a trade, they will not have a selection on Wednesday night, and their only draft pick is on Thursday night at No. 47 in the second round. Advertisement There is no media availability on the team's schedule for Wednesday. Bucks general manager Jon Horst will be available following the conclusion of the second round. It will be the first time Horst has spoken publicly since his debriefing with the media following this past season's NBA trade deadline. So, with the help of the comments section from our Bucks draft preview from last week and a few questions about young players from the mailbag earlier in the summer, let's take a closer look at a few more topics regarding this year's NBA draft. (Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.) They don't have one now, but how could the Bucks end up with a first-round pick in this year's draft? — Troy L. I know there are Bucks fans who would like to see the team move into the first round because that is where the most talented young players can be found. They would like to see the Bucks bring an infusion of young talent, but getting into the first round with the team's current roster and assets would require some tough decisions. The first way to secure a spot in the first round, as we've seen from other teams in recent days, is to take on a worse contract than the one being sent out, one that carries more future years or more money. With the Bucks getting under the second apron and working on their roster flexibility over the last year, that seems like an unattractive option. They could trade a player like AJ Green, who has proven himself on a relatively low contract, but trading him — even with an extension looming — would be a move that sends out a player the Bucks developed for the opportunity to draft and develop another player, as they did with Green. Perhaps there is a team out there that loved Tyler Smith in last year's draft or believes they can develop Andre Jackson Jr. into a role player, but that still might not be worth a first-round pick. The Bucks can make calls and take calls on their players, but it might not end with a smart move, especially in a draft that loses some of its steam in the 20s. Advertisement The easiest way to get into the first round would be trading their 2031 pick without protections for multiple first-round picks over the next few years as the Phoenix Suns did at this year's trade deadline when they moved their 2031 pick for (what will likely be) late first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029. However, the Bucks were not all that interested in trading their 2031 pick at the trade deadline. Additionally, avoiding a trade of the 2031 pick would allow them to enter next offseason with the ability to trade three first-round picks, which they could potentially add to the roughly $80 million of expiring contracts owed to Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma. It seems as if they'll keep the No. 47 pick because it's a cheap contract. Or is there a way to move it to enhance the roster? — Dan M./Jared B. A second-round pick is one of the cheapest contracts any team can sign, so I think there is real value in trying to find and develop a potential rotation player on such a contract. At No. 47, the Bucks may also have the opportunity to negotiate non-guaranteed money and team options into the final few years of the deal, as they did with Andre Jackson Jr. That is valuable flexibility for any team to have in the bottom half of its roster. The Bucks would be able to move that pick, if they wanted to do so, but I think the value of second-round picks, especially late ones, has decreased dramatically over the last three or four years. As we discussed in our draft preview, the advent of the NIL era has turned the final 20 or so picks of the second round into mostly players who are 22 years old (or older) and potentially limited in upside. In recent years, some agents have also employed the strategy of steering teams away from drafting a player, allowing that player to go undrafted and sign with a team of their choice, either as a two-way player or as an undrafted free agent signed to an NBA roster. (For example: Austin Reaves did this in 2021.) Advertisement Aside from being a throw-in in a larger deal that sent out bigger pieces, I don't think the No. 47 pick by itself carries a ton of trade value. Now that the Bucks are out of the second apron, are they able to buy a higher second-round pick? — Jared B. Jared's assumption was correct. Because they are now out from under the second apron, the Bucks would be able to trade a pick for cash considerations, but there would be, in my opinion, two potential concerns in buying another pick. I wouldn't say there is a roster crunch at this moment because of the number of free agents the Bucks have this summer, but there could be if the team finds a way to bring back a majority of its players. Suppose you take the five guaranteed contracts — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Connaughton, Kuzma, Lillard, Tyler Smith — on the roster for next season, the non-guaranteed deals of AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr., plus pick No. 47. In that case, you've already knocked out eight spots. Then, if the Bucks find a way to retain Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, there will be 12 players on the roster with three more spots remaining. At that point, it might be nice to bring in a second cheap second-round contract, but I'd have to think there would be more desire to see if there are any veterans who could sign a minimum contract to help out for next season. While developing young players needs to be a clear goal next season, the Bucks also need to add veterans who can bring a baseline of competence. The second concern would be the success rate of second-round picks. As I stated in my 2025 Bucks draft preview, even picks in the top half of the second round have less than a 15 percent chance of becoming a rotation player in the NBA. Additionally, suppose the Bucks bring back players like Porter, Rollins and Green. In that case, they will need to make a conscious effort to provide those players with sufficient opportunities to develop and grow. Even in an 82-game schedule with 48 minutes a night to fill, there will be only so many opportunities in a system built around Antetokounmpo's playmaking. I'm not sure how many reps there would end up being for two second-round picks. Does Tyler Smith have a good chance of being the backup small forward and power forward next season? — Maurice E. We have reached the portion of summer where the roster's youngest players journey to Greece for their opportunity to work with Giannis Antetokounmpo. In recent days, we have seen Jamaree Bouyea, Jackson Jr., Chris Livingston, and Smith all post from Athens on their Instagram accounts. Bucks legend Marques Johnson added that Stanley Umude and Pete Nance will also be making the trip. Advertisement While these annual trips have not been predictive of future success for the young players on the fringe of the Bucks' roster, getting the opportunity to spend time with the two-time MVP is always good for young players and it should be good for Smith. Regarding Smith's minutes for next season, I'll start with this: I have never seen Smith as a small forward. If you look back at Sam Vecenie's 2024 NBA Draft Guide, this is how he started his summary on Smith: 'Smith is a serious project that I can understand a team falling in love with developmentally. His jumper is a significant weapon for his size. He'll knock down shots throughout his career, and that's meaningful at the 4 — or potentially at the 5 if he can get much stronger. However, his measurements and game make him too much of a tweener between the 4 and 5 spots right now. He's not strong or physical enough to play the 5, but also doesn't possess enough all-around skill to play the 4 yet.' After a year, I think those same questions remain for Smith. He played 122 minutes in the NBA, but knocked down 43.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. In 363 minutes with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League, Smith hit 19 of his 50 3-point attempts (38 percent). Although the sample size is limited, his 3-point stroke appears to be effective and consistent. The Bucks need him to prove that he can provide value in other ways. A big man who can space the floor can be a real weapon next to Antetokounmpo. I don't think Smith ever proved that he could survive on the other end of the floor as a defender or rebounder as a rookie. That was probably to be expected in his first NBA season, but that also means the Bucks will need to see a significant step forward this offseason to insert him into the rotation next season. (Photo of Tyler Smith: Cooper Neill / NBAE via Getty Images)
