MILWAUKEE — Anyone who thought the Milwaukee Bucks and their management group would go quietly into the mediocre night got a rude awakening Tuesday.
With much of the national media obsessed with trying to figure out which team superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would leave Milwaukee for, the Bucks instead stocked up for a title run.
Don’t hand the Eastern Conference title to New York or Cleveland just yet.
The Bucks not only added to their roster, but dramatically weakened division and playoff rival Indiana Pacers, by signing Myles Turner. Just think of him as a younger Brook Lopez, who left for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Turner can stretch defenses by hitting 3s, while protecting the rim by blocking shots.
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst was able to sign Turner by getting creative with the franchise’s financial resources. Damian Lillard was waived, and the $113 million he is owed by the Bucks will be stretched out over five years.
Lillard’s two-year stay in Milwaukee was a big swing and miss. Instead of teaming up with Antetokounmpo for a title, the Bucks were ousted in the first round of the playoffs both years. Obviously, injuries played a huge role in that.
Lillard will miss most, if not all, of next season, after tearing an Achilles.
Horst and the Bucks have also dumped Pat Connaughton’s contract, signed Gary Harris and kept Jericho Sims, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and Taurean Prince.
The loss of 37-year-old Lopez to the Clippers was mitigated by his age and the arrival of Turner.
That’s a lot. Don’t ever accuse of the Bucks of not going for a championship.