NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard linked to Miami Heat after being waived by Milwaukee

One of the most shocking news of free agency was the Milwaukee Bucks waiving Damian Lillard despite two years remaining on his expensive contract. The latest NBA rumors suggest the Miami Heat are interested in Lillard, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, the Heat are expected to pursue Lillard in free agency once he clears waivers. Miami was his preferred destination two years ago before the Bucks pulled the trigger and paired him with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Reynolds added that the Heat will not be the only team interested in the nine-time NBA All-Star. He did not mention specific teams but noted that Lillard holds the cards on where he wants to play next. He is expected to miss the entirety of next season but will be on a much cheaper contract.

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The Milwaukee Bucks decided to waive Lillard to save cap space, agreeing to a historic stretch provision. Lillard was set to earn $113 million over the final two years of his contract, which was stretched to $22.5 million per year over the next five years.

It’s not a bad deal for Lillard, who can sign with any team he wants while still earning from his Bucks contract. The move freed up cap space for Milwaukee, allowing them to make some signings, such as bringing back Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr.

However, the bigger move was signing Myles Turner away from Indiana to a four-year, $107 million contract. Turner replaces Brook Lopez, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year deal.

Damian Lillard reacts to getting waived by Milwaukee

While it was shocking to see the Milwaukee Bucks waive an all-time great in Damian Lillard, it was probably the right move to remain competitive and flexible. They now have a solid team around Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was reportedly upset by the Lillard decision.

Nevertheless, the NBA 75 member is moving on after dropping his latest post on Instagram. Lillard shared an image of himself leaving an establishment while dropping two hashtags: #ToBeContinued and #LillardUniversity.

Lillard holds the key to his future and can choose any team that wants him in free agency. He will likely pick a franchise that welcomes him with open arms and supports him throughout his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

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About the author

Juan Paolo David

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry. 

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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