Following his waiver by the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard finds himself as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. This situation, a result of the Bucks unexpectedly waiving and stretching the final two years of his contract, was likely not the scenario he envisioned. However, it now grants Lillard the freedom to join any team he desires.
The nine-time All-Star, who is set to turn 35 soon, is currently rehabilitating from a torn ACL suffered during the playoffs. This could allow him to take his time, perhaps even waiting until next summer before committing to a team. Nevertheless, Chris Haynes reports that Lillard might consider signing with a team this summer “under the right terms and conditions.”
Lillard has already garnered interest from various teams, reportedly including the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. However, the level of motivation from these teams to finalize a deal remains unclear. All three franchises currently do not have an immediate need for a starting point guard. Furthermore, although Lillard is expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season, it`s highly improbable he would accept a bench role upon his return. This doesn`t preclude him from starting on certain teams; for example, the Lakers could potentially form a highly effective backcourt featuring Luka Doncic and Lillard (as per the original report`s example). A starting position is also conceivable with the Celtics and Warriors, although his fit within those teams might be less seamless.
When Lillard was initially traded to Milwaukee, his preferred destination was reportedly the Miami Heat. Yet, with Jimmy Butler no longer part of the team and the Heat seemingly further from championship contention than when Lillard was first on the trade market, a move to Miami appears unlikely.
Another possibility is that Lillard decides to sit out the entire next season without joining a team, focusing solely on fully recovering from his injury. He could then sign with a title-contending team next summer. Regardless of the timing, Lillard is expected to have ample options for his next playing destination.
Any team that adds Lillard, whether this summer or next, will benefit significantly from the financial arrangement. Milwaukee will be responsible for paying him approximately $22.5 million annually for the next five seasons due to the waiver and stretch maneuver. The Bucks implemented this to create salary cap space for the signing of Myles Turner, thus enabling Lillard to sign elsewhere. The precise salary Lillard would seek on a new contract is undisclosed, but he would undoubtedly accept a substantial pay reduction for the opportunity to play for a team with a strong chance of winning a championship.
Jasper Hawthorne