Damian Lillard was in Milwaukee for just two seasons before the remainder of his two-year, $112.6 million contract was bought out and released in a historic move in the NBA. While some fans are taking it as a show of brutal disrespect by the Bucks, Lillard’s agent says it’s a unique and “incredible” opportunity for the 34-year-old point guard.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for Damian,” said Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, in a statement. “He receives all of his money guaranteed, and it provides him with an opportunity to decide his next destination as an unrestricted free agent. He gets a chance to rehab at home if he chooses to, and be with his family and his kids for the next year. The goal is for him to take his time and make a decision on what his next destination will be.”
Lillard, a 9x All-Star, did not plan to become a free agent this summer, but he also never planned to become a member of the Bucks. When Lillard first requested a trade from the Trail Blazers in 2023 (after 11 years in Portland), he had initially requested to go to the Heat. Instead, the Blazers sent him to Milwaukee, where the Bucks had visions of a dream pairing between him and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Not only did the Bucks underachieve with Lillard, but they also failed to win a single playoff series in two full seasons. When he ruptured his Achilles tendon back in April, the Bucks knew he would miss significant time, and they were unwilling to wait.
But while some are feeling sorry for Dame, he’s now in a position he’s never been before: a free agent, with the chance to choose whatever team he desires. Even at this stage of his career, teams across the league are lining up for Lillard, and there are several contenders who might be interested in signing the veteran point guard.
As a star without a championship, Dame is likely intrigued by the idea of picking a team with the best title odds so that he can make one last run before his career is over. Or, he could return to the West Coast, to be closer to his family who live out in Oakland, California, and Portland, Oregon.
Best of all, money doesn’t have to be a factor with Lillard’s next contract. Since the Bucks stretched and waived his deal, they will be set to pay him over $22 million for the next five years, ensuring a steady paycheck for Lillard that he can stack with whatever contract his new team offers.
Really, it’s a favorable position for Damian Lillard, who has never been a free agent before. He no doubt would have preferred a more successful tenure in Milwaukee, but now that it’s over, he can move on and focus on the future.
As he mulls his next NBA team (likely the last stop of his career), he’ll be working behind the scenes in rehab to get his body right and return to his All-Star form. Despite the setbacks, Damian Lillard is not done yet, and he intends to make the most of his unique opportunity.
