The late portion of the NBA season saw a number of big-name stars go down with devastating Achilles injuries, including Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and former Bucks guard Damian Lillard. Milwaukee opted to stretch the remaining $113 million owed to Lillard on his deal, sending the veteran guard to free agency for the first time in his career.
The opportunity presented to Lillard is very unique. He is still being paid out the rest of his deal by the Bucks, but can still choose the best situation for his eventual return to the court, and money may not be as much a determining factor as the ability to win his first championship. His recovery timeline could match up well with Boston, which has made a number of significant moves in the wake of Tatum's injury and will likely be aiming to reopen its championship window in 2026–27.
