Myles Turner shocked the NBA world by ditching the Indiana Pacers and joining the Milwaukee Bucks on a four-year, $107 million deal. But what makes this signing even wilder is how the Bucks pulled it off by waiving Damian Lillard and stretching his $113 million contract over five years just to create the cap space.
Yes, you read that right. Milwaukee let go of a future Hall of Famer recovering from Achilles surgery to make room for a center who, while solid. Still, the Bucks believe Turner is the right piece to help Giannis Antetokounmpo chase another title.
According to ESPN, he expected the Pacers to pay him more than the $25 million-per-year deal Naz Reid got from Minnesota. “But no one saw the Bucks creating salary cap space to sign Turner,” a source said. Once Milwaukee opened up the money, they outbid Indiana and won him over.
The Pacers just made the Finals for the first time in 25 years, and Turner was their longest-tenured player. His sudden departure, especially after Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury, completely changes Indiana’s trajectory. From looking like Eastern Conference favorites, they’re now scrambling for answers.
