After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard is an unrestricted free agent for the primary time in his profession. It is definitely not the circumstances wherein he’d think about, after the Bucks unexpectedly waived and stretched the ultimate two years of his deal, however now Lillard has the chance to hitch any group he desires.
The soon-to-be 35 yr outdated is presently rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered within the playoffs, so he may take his time to hitch a group, maybe ready till subsequent summer time even. Nonetheless, Chris Haynes reports that the nine-time All Star could contemplate becoming a member of a group this summer time “underneath the fitting phrases and situations.”
Lillard has already drawn curiosity from a number of groups, together with the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, although it is unclear how motivated these groups are to get a deal finished. All three of these groups additionally aren’t in want of a place to begin guard in the intervening time, and despite the fact that Lillard might be out for many if not all of subsequent season, when he does return it is extremely unlikely that he’d need to come off the bench. That does not imply he would not begin on any of these groups, the Lakers as an illustration would have a extremely potent backcourt with Luka Doncic and Lillard. The identical goes for the Celtics and the Warriors, although his slot in each locations is not as seamless.
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When Lillard was initially traded to Milwaukee, his most popular touchdown spot was the Miami Warmth, however with Jimmy Butler now not on the group, and the Warmth additional away from title competition than they have been when Lillard was initially on the buying and selling block, that pairing appears unlikely.
There’s additionally the choice that Lillard decides to take a seat out subsequent season with no group, totally rehab from his harm, after which joins a title contender subsequent summer time. Both means, Lillard would have his decide of the litter in no matter group he desires to hitch.
Whichever group provides Lillard, whether or not it is this summer time or subsequent, it will likely be at an extremely steep low cost now that he might be making roughly $22.5 million in every of the following 5 seasons from the Bucks. Milwaukee waived and stretched Lillard’s contract with a purpose to make room for the signing of Myles Turner, which permits Lillard to signal elsewhere. It is unclear what Lillard would tackle a brand new deal, however he’ll absolutely take an enormous pay minimize for the possibility of enjoying on a group that has a powerful likelihood of successful a championship.
