Damian Lillard came to the Milwaukee Bucks with lots of hype. After two seasons with the team, Shams Charania from ESPN reported that he got waived in order for the team to land Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. This move should please Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, we’re going to take a look to the potential lineup the Bucks will have for the next NBA season.
The projected starting five looks like this:
- Point guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Shooting Guard: Gary Trent Jr.
- Small Forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Power Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Myles Turner
This makes the lineup one with plenty of size. You can argue they have good size advantage in pretty much any position. Plus, they can stretch the floor. The Bucks needed a center able to shoot from distance after losing Brook Lopez to the Clippers.
Turner is a move to apeace Giannis
The Lillard experiment wasn’t good for the Bucks, and losing Brook Lopez without any quick reaction from the team would’ve certainly frustrate Giannis. However, the team acted fast and you can argue Myles Turner is an upgrade on Lopez. He just played the NBA finals for the Pacers and is a big presence under the rim, maybe even a better protector than Lopez.
Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
By giving Turner a four-year, $107 million contract, the intentions are clear. Milwaukee wants to help Giannis bring another Larry O’Brien to the city. It also favors the Bucks in another department: they weakened a tough rival in the East.
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The Bucks are gearing up to win the East
The Indiana Pacers just represented the Eastern Conference in last season’s finals, but their return is unlikely. First, they will probably lose superstar Tyrese Haliburton the whole 2025-2026 season due to an Achilles tear. Now, they lose their best big man to a conference rival.
This means the biggest rivals the Bucks will have are the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. None of those teams have made big-time, blockbuster moves yet, so it seems like the Bucks are getting a head start.
