The NBA can be a cold and brutal place. Just ask Damian Lillard.
It was just one of the many moves the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off on the first day of July in an effort to rebuild around Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has not advanced past the first round of the NBA Playoffs in the last three years. This offseason could very well be the culmination of the retooling that began the moment Jrue Holiday was traded away, as Antetokounmpo saw the likes of Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and Brook Lopez leave either via trade or free agency.
However, Lillard’s case was more painful. The nine-time NBA All-Star battled back from a blood clot in his right calf only to rupture his left Achilles tendon in his third game back in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first round postseason matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard clearly wanted to play and repay the faith Milwaukee had in him, but in the end, the whole situation simply reminded us that the NBA remains a business.
Save for a few franchises, NBA teams tend to avoid going way over the salary cap, especially with the punitive restrictions put in place beginning with the 2024 offseason. Team owners would prefer to avoid penalties, often to a fault. Save for their stars, pretty much everything is untouchable to the point that cost-cutting becomes counterproductive.
Letting go of Lillard, though, does not excuse Milwaukee from any liabilities, as they will now pay the $112.6 million they owe him over the next five years. Moreover, the $22.5 million the Bucks owe Lillard annually will still count against their salary cap, a smaller cap hold but one that nonetheless will stay with them for the foreseeable future. Milwaukee has managed to cut down on salaries and stay well below the dreaded second apron, but the roster as it stands not only looks night and day compared to the last few seasons, but may also not be enough to contend even in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. are among the veteran holdovers who played more than 25 minutes per game last season, but things are uncertain beyond them. Kevin Porter Jr. is an offensive talent, but his past transgressions off the court may raise some worries. Myles Turner may have played in at least 72 games over the last two seasons, but he barely hit 60 games in three of the six seasons prior to that. Turner, Kuzma, Vasilije Micic, and Gary Harris will also need time to fully assimilate themselves into Doc Rivers’ system.
Given the revolving door of a roster the Milwaukee Bucks have, will Giannis Antetokounmpo be willing to wait? He’ll turn 31 in December and will be in his prime, but as he looks around, he sees his peers, including those dealt with the worst hand possible, coming and going. The many moving parts certainly has him thinking one thing: Should he be making a move too?
