Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are all signed through the 2026-27 season. If Lillard misses most of next season, he could return fully healthy for that 2026-27 campaign and help the Warriors finish off their dynastic run with one last title chase.

Damian Lillard went to bed on Monday night trapped on a sinking ship. He was a member of a Milwaukee Bucks team desperately trying to reshape its roster to appease Antetokounmpo without him, as Lillard will presumably miss most or all of the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bucks will waive Lillard and the $113 million remaining on his contract using the stretch provision. The move will allow the team to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract, per Charania.