Bucks' Bold Move: Waive Damian Lillard, Sign Myles Turner

Merlin sees the Bucks’ choice to waive injured Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner as a deliberate roster move, not a panic. As a team source told ESPN, "The biggest misconception is that this was a panic move. It wasn't. It was a basketball decision." Lillard’s torn Achilles and age made his return uncertain, while Turner, 29, brings rim protection, spacing and Finals experience — the fit Milwaukee needed to shore up Giannis’ supporting cast. Merlin senses this nudges the franchise toward the present: a younger, more defensively stout core built to win now and keep Giannis engaged. The decision trades long-term certainty for immediate fit; whether Turner’s skill set becomes true alchemy depends on chemistry and health around Giannis.