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The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the NBA's strangest moves this offseason. As part of their attempt to re-sign Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks signed Myles Turner. However, the team paid a heavy price to lure the center away from the Indiana Pacers. Milwaukee waived and stretched Damian Lillard's contract in an unprecedented move. Now, Turner's return date is set.
Before the trade, Turner was the longest-tenured Pacers player on the roster. He arrived in Indiana during the Paul George era and hung around for the next decade. After the Pacers' surprising run to the NBA Finals, many thought Turner had done enough to earn a new contract. However, Indiana chose not to keep him around while Tyrese Haliburton rehabs his torn ACL.
The NBA's regular season schedule released was on Thursday. One of the dates to circle for the Bucks is November 3. Milwaukee heads to Indiana for what will be a meaningful matchup for Turner. Pacers fans shared their outrage when their team let Turner go. Ironically, Bucks fans did not like that their team waived Lillard to pull the move off.
While the move received a lot of backlash, it might end up working out for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo has not yet requested a trade, a great sign for a Bucks team that wants to sign him to a long-term deal as soon as possible. If the former MVP plays this season, he and Turner form one of the premier defensive front courts in the league.
Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, Milwaukee is under pressure to win. Antetokounmpo could be in his last year with the Bucks. Additionally, the Turner move sets the Bucks' payroll even further back than it already was. The team's championship window is almost closed, and it could be a long road back once it shuts completely.
For now, Milwaukee has a chance to build a contender around a formidable front court. The Bucks and Pacers will reignite their rivalry on November 3 in a game that carries a new wrinkle for Turner.
