Damian Lillard has been waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, who chose to stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract to make room for new signing Myles Turner on a four-year, $107 million deal.
The move comes after Lillard tore his left Achilles in April during the playoffs and was expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025–26 season. However, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported Tuesday that sources close to Lillard now believe he could return as early as the 2026 All-Star break in February.
Spears added that Lillard could sign a short-term deal, giving teams an economical way to assess his fit and recovery. With this updated timeline, playoff contenders may view Lillard as a valuable midseason addition with postseason potential.
The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs are all expected to be among the teams pursuing Lillard. Miami is seen as a natural destination given their system and cap space, while Houston remains financially flexible after recent big-name acquisitions. Other contenders like the Suns or Clippers may show interest, though cap issues could complicate their bids.
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