Inside the Damian Lillard-Bucks drama before his shocking release
Damian Lillard being waived by the Bucks on Tuesday seemed to come out of nowhere.
But according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Lillard and Milwaukee’s relationship hit a rough patch in the wake of his recovery from a torn Achilles.
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“I was informed that Aaron Goodwin, Damian Lillard’s agent, about a month ago, reached out to the Bucks and informed them that Dame would like to rehab back home in Portland — stay with his kids, rehab back in Portland,” Haynes said Wednesday on NBA TV.
“I was told that some people within the Bucks did not approve of that, and so there was kind of some back and forth right there. … I think that might have gotten the ball rolling or at least put some ideas in the heads of the Milwaukee Bucks that kind of led to this decision.”
Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles in the Bucks’ first-round exit from the playoffs in April.
With the former Trail Blazer expected to miss most, or all, of next season as he recovers from the injury, the Bucks opted to waive the nine-time All-Star, stretching his contract over the next five seasons to make their new four-year, $107 million pact with Myles Turner work.
Although the move raised eyebrows, Lillard is said to be happy with it.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for Damian,” Goodwin, Lillard’s agent, told the Oregonian. “He receives all of his money guaranteed, and it provides him an opportunity to decide his next destination as an unrestricted free agent. He gets a chance to rehab at home if he chooses to, and be with his family and his kids for the next year.
“The goal is for him to take his time and make a decision on what his next destination will be.”
Milwaukee owes Lillard $112 million over the next five years after waiving him.
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