RealGM Basketball Wiretap

30 July 2025

• Damian Lillard Reflects On Time With Bucks, Calls Injuries 'Biggest Hurdle' To Championship

  Damian Lillard recently spoke with the Journal Sentinel about his two-year tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, emphasizing that injuries prevented the team from reaching its championship potential. Lillard, who was waived-and-stretched by Milwaukee on July 6 and re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaged 25 points and seven assists during his time with the Bucks.

  Lillard addressed criticism about his performance in Milwaukee, noting the team's injury struggles throughout both seasons. The Bucks were the second seed for most of the 2023-24 season before finishing third, then faced significant health issues in the playoffs.

  "I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big. You gotta be healthy and you gotta be playing your best at the right time and I think we just had bad luck," Lillard said.

  The point guard detailed how injuries affected both playoff runs. In 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire first round while Lillard injured his Achilles in Game 3 and missed two games. This year, Lillard ruptured his Achilles at the start of Game 4 in their playoff series.

  "The healthy part we just didn't have," Lillard explained. "I think that's the biggest hurdle. That was our biggest hurdle and each year that was the case."

  Despite the injury setbacks, Lillard and Antetokounmpo formed the league's highest-scoring duo during their time together. The pair also captured the NBA Cup championship, which Lillard viewed as validation of their potential when healthy.

  Lillard defended his individual performance against critics who compared his Milwaukee production unfavorably to his Portland years. He emphasized the challenge of maintaining elite numbers while sharing the court with another ball-dominant superstar.

  "But I think Giannis and I, we was the highest-scoring duo during that time. We won a Cup. I think a lot of people for me personally was like, we want to see Dame do this and Dame do that, but I'm playing with a 30-plus point per game scorer, a guy who plays with the ball in his hands the same way I've done my whole career. He's aggressive and attacking and I still managed to score 25 points per game and seven assists over my two years pretty much," Lillard said.

  "So I think it's kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn't the same) because of the way I played in Portland. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different. But I think for how productive I actually was I think it's been viewed unfairly. Because how many other people have averaged 25 a game with seven assists as the No. 1 option, let alone playing with somebody like Giannis? But I wouldn't say it was incomplete. I thought we just couldn't stay healthy. I think that's the biggest hurdle. That was our biggest hurdle and each year that was the case."

  Lillard praised his partnership with the two-time MVP, calling it a "luxury" to play alongside such a dominant player. He appreciated Antetokounmpo's dedication and competitive spirit, noting their shared commitment to team success.

  "As a tandem with him, I felt like we can go and win it all with the two of us," Lillard said. "I'm not sure I'll ever have that experience again."

• Chris Livingston, Bucks Agree To One-Year, $2.3M Deal

  The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to re-sign Chris Livingston on a one-year, $2.3 million deal.

  Livingston appeared in 21 games with the Bucks last season, averaging 1.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.0 minutes. Livingsto also appeared in 18 G League games, averaging 18.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.5 minutes.

• Jon Horst: I've Done Everything Within My Human Possible Power This Offseason

  Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst defended the team's decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard in order to create enough cap space to sign Myles Turner in an exclusive interview with The Athletic. The Bucks stretched Lillard's $113 million contract over five years to create cap space for Turner's four-year, $108.9 million deal. The decision was made in order to maximize their chances of competing during the tenure of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

  Lillard is expected to miss most of the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon. The move places approximately $22.5 million in dead money on Milwaukee's salary cap for the next five seasons.

  "Maximizing Giannis' prime, our opportunities to win, I feel like that's our responsibility always. So it was really a now versus future decision," Horst told The Athletic.

  Horst revealed that Turner had been a long-term target for the organization. The opportunity arose after Tyrese Haliburton's injury affected Indiana's plans during the NBA Finals run.

  "This was one that we were always exploring. And Myles has always been a target," Horst explained.

  The Bucks plan to expand Antetokounmpo's playmaking responsibilities next season. Doc Rivers has publicly advocated for utilizing Antetokounmpo in a point forward role.

  "He truly is becoming a real point guard. His decision-making is elite. His turnover game is reducing," Horst said of the two-time MVP.

  Despite consecutive playoff disappointments, Horst expressed confidence in Rivers' coaching abilities. The Bucks finished with 50-win seasons in both years under Rivers despite significant injury challenges.

  "He's a championship-level coach. He's the right coach to get us to where we want to go," Horst stated.

  Horst was asked if he feels he's done enough this offseason to put together a team around Antetokounmpo capable of competing.

  "Have we done enough? We've done everything, I've done everything within my human possible power this offseason," said Horst. "I feel like our group works our butts off. I've got to shout out Dave Dean, Ryan Hoover, Milt Newton, Pat Haneman, Samer Jassar, David Mincberg, and Arjun Mahendroo, the whole group, we do everything we can to get better. We do everything we can to put the next version of this thing out there, to give Doc and Giannis and Bobby and Scoot (Kevin Porter Jr.) and the guys on our team every chance that they can to win every night.

  And so have we done enough? I don't know. We'll find out. Have we done everything that we possibly could? Absolutely. And have we done more than anyone else could possibly do? I believe we have. And that's not an arrogant thing to say. In a very humble way. I think we've done as much or more than anyone else could possibly do, and I'm proud of that.

• Cole Anthony Agrees To Buyout With Grizzlies, Will Sign One-Year Deal With Bucks

  Cole Anthony has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.

  Anthony is set to sign a one-year deal with the Bucks after he clears waivers.

  Anthony was sent to the Grizzlies as part of the Desmond Bane trade with the Magic.

  Anthony averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds in his five seasons with the Magic.

  The buyout gives the Grizzlies the cap space to renegotiate-and-extend Jaren Jackson Jr.

• Bucks To Re-Sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo If Giannis Antetokounmpo Stays With Team

  The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo should Giannis Antetokounmpo remain with the team next season, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not play last season after suffering a torn Achilles in 2024.

  Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly evaluating the championship potential of the Bucks before making an official decision.

  It was reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo was less likely to leave after the addition of Myles Turner.

• Bradley Beal Owed 25% Advance Payment For 2025-26 Salary On July 15

  Bradley Beal is owed a 25% advance payment for next season's salary on July 15, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The payment, worth more than $13 million, could explain why Beal's buyout process with the Suns has been slow to unfold.

  Although Beal will receive the payment even if he agrees to a buyout with the Suns, he could still wait for it to go through before making his departure official.

  Several teams have registered interest in Beal, including the Clippers, Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Bucks.

  The Clippers are seen as the favorites to sign Beal.

• Myles Turner On Signing With Bucks: 'I Saw A Chance To Remain Competitive'

  Myles Turner discussed his reasoning for leaving the Indiana Pacers to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, focusing on his goal to play for a competitive tam.

  "For me, ultimately it was about just staying competitive," Turner said. "Two years ago, we got to the conference finals. Obviously, last year we got to the Finals. Being a big part of winning basketball just changed my entire perspective on this league. I saw a chance to remain competitive here."

  Turner, who averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, signed a four-year, $170 million deal with the Bucks.

  Turner added that he was excited to play alongside Giannis Antetokoummpo.

  "It's a rarity to be alongside him. He's a generational player, arguably one of the greatest players to play this game. I'm sure we're going to talk here in the weeks to come.

  "I've played against Giannis for quite some time now. Very familiar with his game and what he's capable of. I do see a seamless fit. He's someone that is able to push the ball, get out in transition, create for people," said Turner.

  Jon Horst then discussed his vision for the Bucks' offseason, which included adding Turner and waiving-and-stretching Damian Lillard.

  "All our offseason planning prior to [acquiring Turner was] thinking about how can we take this team to the next level?... You looked at ways in which we could potentially get to that and truly take our team, retool it, rethink it, modernize our style of play, impact Giannis and his development, and his growth as a playmaker with that position at the end of the season in the playoffs, and it just was a perfect fit."

  The Bucks finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season and lost to the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Says 'We'll See' On Remaining With Bucks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks during a YouTube livestream with iShowSpeed in which he was non-committal either way, which supports the reporting from ESPN's Shams Charania that the superstar is evaluating his options this offseason. The Bucks gambled on a future that continues to include Antetokounmpo when they decided to use the waive-and-stretch provision on Damian Lillard in order to sign Myles Turner in free agency.

  "So you staying in Milwaukee?" asked iShowSpeed of Antetokounmpo.

  "Uh, probably," replied Antetokounmpo. "We'll see. I love Milwaukee."

  The statement was analyzed by ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Thursday's episode of Get Up.

  "The thing about it is, is that he didn't give a definitive answer," said Windhorst. "And I'm certainly not going to analyze something he said seaside in Greece. But what I will say is the 'we'll see.' That is essentially what there's about five or six NBA teams banking on: the 'we'll see.'

  "And I know it sounds trivial, but for years Giannis was completely, completely locked in. Him saying "we'll see" backs up what Shams has been saying this entire summer, which is that he might be more open-minded than he was in the past. And I would say the same thing probably in Milwaukee, but we'll see. And now I can quote Giannis on that. Thank you very much."

  Antetokounmpo also said on the stream that he has been recruited to the Knicks.

  "A lot of people tried to convince me-try to convince me to go and play there and stuff," said Antetokounmpo.

  The way Antetokounmpo has responded privately and now publicly to the possibility of him leaving the Bucks has led teams to continue to monitor the situation.

  "While on one hand it's not Giannis saying he wants to do anything but be in Milwaukee, it is-it does explain why teams are keeping a very close eye on this situation," said Windhorst on First Take. "And I would say that Giannis provided no clarity on his future with those remarks, and no clarity is what's been driving the speculation around Giannis."

  Charania still anticipates Antetokounmpo will have serious discussions about his future with his represenatives.

  "It wasn't the draft," said Charania on NBA Today. "Clearly wasn't free agency, not going to be Summer League. The next two months is when Giannis Antetokounmpo, his inner circle, they're going to have to have some real conversations."

• Bradley Beal Considering Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Bucks

  Bradley Beal has reportedly considered the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks as team he is interested in signing with after he completes his anticipated buyout with the Phoenix Suns and becomes a free agent.

  Beal must give back at least $13.8 million in his buyout with the Phoenix Suns in order for the team to be allowed to waive-and-stretch what remains on his $110.8 million contract that runs through the 2026-27 season. The Suns will have a dead cap hit of $19.4 million through the 2029-30 season. Phoenix is motivated to save tax dollars this season.

  Because most of the NBA is operating without cap space this offseason, Beal will be limited in what he can sign for. The Clippers can offer Beal the balance of their midlevel exception with a $5.3 million starting salary. Zach Lowe reported on his podcast on Monday that the feeling around the NBA is that the Clippers are the favorites to sign Beal, especially following their trade of Norman Powell.

  The Lakers can offer Beal the biannual exception worth $5.1 million. Milwaukee could possibly offer Beal the biggest role, but they can only offer a minimum contract because they have used up their exceptions. The Warriors are in a holding pattern as they await a resolution to the Jonathan Kuminga restricted free agency while also remaining the favorites to sign Al Horford if he doesn't retire.

  Beal remained a productive player during his two seasons with the Suns, but the fit with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant wasn't as strong as they envisioned. In 53 games last season, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Beal is represented by Reggie Brown and Mark Bartelstein.

• Vasilije Micic Gives Up $6.1M In Buyout To Allow Bucks To Stretch Contract

  Vasilije Micic agreed to give up $6.1 million in his buyout with the Milwaukee Bucks, which allows the team to stretch his cap hit and stay at the 15 percent of the cap allowed in stretched salary.

  Micic's remaining $2 million will be stretch over three seasons as opposed to Damian Lillard's over five. Micic plans to return to Europe to continue his career.

  Micic was traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2025 trade deadline and then back to the Hornets at the draft. The Bucks acquired Micic from the Hornets as part of the Pat Connaughton trade.