Chris Haynes Reveals Damian Lillard's Reaction On Getting Waived, New Details Suggest He Was Planning To Leave Bucks Next Summer
Damian Lillard was blindsided, and he's not alone.
Advertisement
After the Milwaukee Bucks made the stunning decision to waive Lillard and stretch his $113 million contract over five years in order to sign Myles Turner, NBA insider Chris Haynes dropped a series of bombshells that peeled back the curtain on how it all unfolded and how it's reverberating throughout the locker room.
"I spoke with Damian Lillard briefly, and, you know, he was surprised. He was surprised. The Bucks did recently go out there to Portland to meet with Dame, but they did not tell Dame that this was coming. He had no clue about that as well. I was told that Dame found out about the situation just like everybody else found out."
"So, you know, you could read into that as you may, but at the end of the day, he's going to be a free agent, first time ever in his career. He's going to have the opportunity to choose his own team."
"And, you know, he's been working out. I've been seeing videos of him working out, rehabbing right now. So he's in a good place mentally. But there's definitely things that could have been done and handled differently, for sure."
Advertisement
That alone has sent shockwaves through the NBA world. Lillard, a future Hall of Famer and one of the league's most respected veterans, was not even given the courtesy of a heads-up before his abrupt release. This wasn't just a cap-clearing move; it was a cold, calculated departure from the loyalty-based culture Milwaukee used to pride itself on.
Marc J Spear has since confirmed that Lillard likely would have left the Bucks next summer anyway had he reached free agency under healthier circumstances.
"Don't feel bad for Damian Lillard. This is a win-win. Dame had a player option for next summer that he was considering not exercising. No secret living away from family in Milwaukee was a challenge. So he gets his $ and is now an unrestricted free agent free to go where HE wants."
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo is said to be 'not pleased' with how the franchise dumped his co-star.
Advertisement
Haynes reported that Antetokounmpo 'didn't like how it was handled' and has been 'weighing his options' regarding his future with Milwaukee, again stirring up those annual whispers about whether the Greek Freak might finally explore other teams.
In the immediate aftermath, it's clear Milwaukee prioritized cap maneuvering and long-term roster fit. By stretching Lillard's $112.6 million deal, they'll now carry $22.5 million in dead cap space for the next five years. That's a significant hit and shows just how desperate they were to reshape the team around Giannis.
In return, they acquired Myles Turner, a 28-year-old elite rim protector and floor spacer coming off a season where he averaged 15.6 points and shot a career-best 39.6% from three. Turner gives Giannis the defensive anchor and frontcourt partner he's lacked since Brook Lopez's prime. But at what cost?
Lillard's Bucks tenure ends with bittersweet disappointment. After arriving in 2023 with championship hopes, he battled injuries, chemistry issues, and playoff heartbreak. He averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists but never got to show his full impact in the postseason due to health setbacks.
Advertisement
Now, his departure leaves behind more than just cap room. It leaves questions about culture, trust, and whether the Bucks just made a win-now gamble that could haunt them later.
Related: Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
When do College Football 26 player, team ratings come out? When is game's release date?
(Editor's note: EA Sports released its deep dive into Road to Glory mode for College Football 26 on Friday, June 27.) College Football 26 is coming out soon, and EA Sports has been busy sharing details this past week with highly anticipated deep dives into Team Builder and Dynasty mode. The next big one that fans are dying to know: What are the player and team ratings? Advertisement We already know a few players' ratings (well, we think). Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was shown to be part of the 99 Club in the Dynasty deep dive on the Orlando-based video game company's website. His fellow cover athlete, Alabama receiver Ryan Williams, was shown to be a 97 overall (though his Elusiveness was a maxed-out 99). And there were a couple others revealed in the deep dive, including Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander (86), Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen (94) and Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer (94). Last year for College Football 25, the team ratings came out fresh off the tail of EA Sports' announcement of the 25 toughest places to play, which were released for CFB 26 on Tuesday, June 24. Player ratings waited until July 10, a week before the game's release date. We are still waiting on one last deep dive into Road to Glory and its high school football component, so keep an eye out for updates. Here's what we do know so far about College Football 26, including its release date, prices, platforms and cross-play ability: When does College Football 26 come out? College Football 26 will have its wide release Thursday, July 10. Early access will be available for those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle on Monday, July 7. Advertisement How much is College Football 26? The Standard Edition of College Football 26 will cost $69.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99, and the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Edition of both CFB 26 and Madden 26, is $149.99. CFB 26 Dynasty deep dive EA Sports shared new information about gameplay, presentation, the Team Builder function and Dynasty mode over the past week. Here's a look at the changes to the popular Dynasty mode in a video narrated by Kirk Herbstreit: Looking for more details? We've got you covered. Will high school be in College Football 26? The Road to Glory mode will allow a created player to start as a high school football recruit, building a recruiting tape for colleges, earning scholarships, announcing their college decision in a hat ceremony and even decommitting if a better offer comes up. There is also a high school football stadium template available in Team Builder. Advertisement Here's a rundown of the new features as announced by EA Sports: Dynamic and auto subs for quick substitutions and unique formations Real-world coaches and new playbooks, formations and positions In-game traditions such as Georgia's spiked shoulder pads to celebrate turnovers Crowd songs such as "Seven Nation Army" and "Enter Sandman" Wear and tear for player injuries over the course of a season Cross-play between consoles for Online Dynasty Mode A high-school component in Road to Glory Stadium pulse will get louder during primetime games Return of Trophy Room to showcase awards to other players What's the difference between the College Football 26 editions? The Deluxe Edition of College Football 26 includes more bonus features and three-day early access to the game. The MVP Edition's main bonus is its bundle with Madden 26. Here's a look at the different pre-order benefits for each edition: Standard Edition: includes All Hands Ultimate Team pack, Dynasty coach points and Road to Glory skill points. Deluxe Edition: includes Standard Edition bonuses, plus early access, 4600 College Football points, early access Ultimate Team solo challenges and Top Prospect Ultimate Team pack (for orders before June 19). MVP Edition: includes Deluxe Edition bonuses, plus Deluxe Edition of Madden 25 and Exclusive Elite Player Ultimate Team pack. Like CFB 25, College Football 26 will be available to play only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There are no known plans to make it available for PC gamers and those on previous-gen consoles such as Xbox One and PS4. Advertisement Will College Football 26 have cross play? Yes, those playing College Football 26 on PS5 will be able to take on those playing on one of the Xbox consoles. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: EA College Football 26 release date, team and player rating schedule
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
College Football 26 out now: Deluxe Edition, MVP Bundle pre-orders grant early access
College Football 26 is here. Users who pre-ordered the Deluxe edition or the MVP Bundle, which includes College Football 26 and Madden 26, can begin playing the game on July 7. EA Sports granted three days early access to those who pre-ordered. If you did not pre-order, you have to buy the game on its official release date, July 10. Advertisement The Standard Edition of Madden 26 will cost $69.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99, and the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Edition of both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, is $149.99. Much of the information regarding the game has been released. Deep dives on Dynasty Mode, Road to Glory, Ultimate Team and online head-to-head can be found on the EA Sports College Football website, where you can also find gameplay and presentation deep dives. EA dropped their top 10 offensive and defensive player ratings on July 1 with Ohio State's wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs being the top on their respective sides of the ball. The top five ratings for each position were also dropped with Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier tied at the top for quarterbacks with a 92 rating. The team ratings have also been released with Alabama leading the FBS with a 89 overall team rating. Advertisement What console will College Football 26 be available on? College Football 26 will be available on the current generation Xbox and PlayStation. That means that only the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the PlayStation 5. The Xbox One nor the PlayStation 4 will have access to the game. The game also will not be available on Nintendo Switch or PC. Top offensive player ratings Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State - 98 OVR Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama - 95 OVR Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - 95 OVR Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - 94 OVR Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama - 94 OVR Spencer Fano, RT, Utah - 94 OVR Ar'maj Reed-Adams, RG, Texas A&M - 93 OVR Advertisement Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt - 93 OVR Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami - 93 OVR Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State - 93 OVR Alabama receiver and cover athlete Ryan Williams goes for a catch against Georgia in EA Sports College Football 26. Top defensive player ratings Caleb Downs, FS, Ohio State - 96 OVR Anthony Hill Jr, MIKE, Texas - 95 OVR T.J. Parker, Left Edge, Clemson - 95 OVR Dylan Stewart, Right Edge, South Carolina - 94 OVR Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennesse - 94 OVR Peter Woods, DT, Clemson - 94 OVR Colin Simmons, Right Edge, Texas - 93 OVR Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame - 93 OVR Keldrick Faulk, Left Edge, Auburn - 93 OVR Dillion Thieneman, SS, Oregon - 93 OVR This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: College Football 26 out now: Who has early access from pre-order?
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Precocious' Obliteration In Good Order After Eye-Catching Sanford Blowout
'Precocious' Obliteration In Good Order After Eye-Catching Sanford Blowout originally appeared on Paulick Report. Leland Ackerley Racing's Obliteration impressed again when improving to 2-for-2 in Saturday's Sanford (G3), a six-furlong sprint for juveniles, during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Violence bay graduated by a widening 7 1/2 lengths sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on June 12 at Churchill Downs, and he upped that margin to 10 1/2 lengths at the Spa in a final time of 1:10.65 – his Beyer Speed Figure jumping from 77 to 91. 'He looks like he came out of it good,' said Scott Blasi, assistant to the first time Sanford winning Asmussen. 'He's just a very talented colt, precocious, and hopefully he will continue to improve.' Obliteration broke very sharply from post 2 under Flavien Prat and led every step of the way through fractions of :22.74, :45.56, :57.56 on the fast dirt while turning back the pressure from local Tremont (L) runner-up Blinging It Back to win in dominant fashion. 'He's always been very forward. He proved that in his first start, and showed that was no fluke by coming back and running better than that,' said Blasi. 'He broke so sharply and made it a two-horse race before pulling away.' Advertisement Local graded options for juveniles include the 6 1/2-furlong $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) on August 2, as well as the seven-furlong $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful (G1) on September 1. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
