🦌 The Bucks Strike Big: Myles Turner Joins Milwaukee on 4-Year, $107M Deal…read more…

Milwaukee, WI — July 7, 2025
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially back in the conversation — and this time, they’re anchoring their future around rim protection, versatility, and dominance in the paint.

In a bold free agency move confirmed on July 7, the Bucks signed former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a 4-year, $107 million contract, sending a loud message to the rest of the NBA: we’re reloading, not rebuilding.

With Damian Lillard waived just days earlier, the Bucks wasted no time turning their financial flexibility into firepower — landing one of the best shot-blockers in the league to complement superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and maintain their grip on the Eastern Conference.

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🎯 Why Myles Turner?

Turner is not just another big man. He’s a two-time league leader in blocks, a career 35% three-point shooter, and one of the most switchable, mobile centers in today’s NBA.

Here’s what he brings to Milwaukee:

• 🛡 Elite Rim Protection – Averages 2.3 blocks per game over his career

• 🎯 Floor Spacing – Career 35.3% from beyond the arc

• 🧠 Defensive Versatility – Can guard pick-and-roll, switch on wings

• ⛓ Durability – Played 77+ games in each of the last two seasons

The Bucks, who struggled defensively last season after injuries and aging legs exposed their interior gaps, now get a modern big who protects the paint without clogging the offense.

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🔄 Replacing Lillard with Defense and Depth

Turner’s signing comes just after the Bucks stretched and waived Damian Lillard, clearing salary and cap space. While losing Lillard’s offensive gravity stings, this pivot reflects a strategic course correction: one that prioritizes Giannis’s defensive identity and physical dominance.

It’s clear that Milwaukee no longer wants to outscore teams — they want to smother them.

“We believe Myles Turner is the perfect fit alongside Giannis,” said Bucks GM Jon Horst. “He gives us a modern two-way anchor who can defend at a high level and space the floor. He checks every box.”

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🧬 Building the New Core Around Giannis

The Bucks now pair Giannis and Turner in what might be the most athletic frontcourt in the NBA:

Add in role players like Pat Connaughton, Andre Jackson Jr., and newly drafted guard Blake Hinton, and Milwaukee is once again built to compete in the East — especially if they can land another guard (rumors point to Bradley Beal or Malcolm Brogdon).

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💰 Contract Breakdown

Turner’s 4-year, $107M contract includes:

• 💵 $26.75M annually

• 🛡 $87M guaranteed, with incentives tied to All-Defense and playoff success

• 🏁 Player option in Year 4

Compared to similar big-man deals, it’s a value contract for a player entering his prime (age 29) who impacts both ends of the floor.

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🏀 What This Means for the Bucks

• Rebounding & Defense Upgraded: The Bucks fell to 12th in defensive rating last year. Turner’s addition could vault them back into the top five.

• Offensive Flexibility: With Turner’s shooting, Giannis can operate freely in the post or in transition without bumping into another paint-bound big.

• Future-Proofing: This move isn’t just about 2025 — it’s about building a post-Middleton, post-Lopez team around Giannis and athletic, versatile pieces.

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🔥 NBA World Reacts

🏀 “Huge W for the Bucks. Turner + Giannis is terrifying defensively.” – @TheHoopScene
💬 “This is the kind of smart, aggressive move that keeps your window open.” – ESPN’s Bobby Marks
🎙️ “Giannis needed a co-anchor in the frontcourt — and now he has one.” – Zach Lowe, The Lowe Post

Meanwhile, Pacers fans bid farewell to a franchise cornerstone who gave them nearly a decade of elite defense, leadership, and professionalism.

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📅 What’s Next?

Milwaukee’s offseason is far from over. With a mid-level exception (~$3.6M) and a few roster spots to fill, the Bucks are still pursuing:

• Malcolm Brogdon (Clippers) – steady hand at PG

• Bradley Beal (free agent) – veteran scoring

• Kyle Lowry – potential minimum deal for leadership

Whether or not another splash comes, this Myles Turner signing sets the tone for a new, nastier Bucks identity: defense-first, aggressive, and ready to fight in the East.

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📝 Final Thoughts: A Smart Gamble With Big Upside

The Bucks’ championship window isn’t closed — but it was narrowing. Injuries, aging stars, and playoff setbacks had the franchise at a crossroads.

With Myles Turner, they’ve chosen a new direction: one that doesn’t rely on 40-foot threes or iso-heavy offense, but on balance, defense, and modern basketball versatility.

For a team that still has Giannis at his peak, this move could be the bridge between eras — and just maybe, a return to the NBA Finals.