The Nuggets have already done some incredible work on the margins this offseason, and now they’ve been gifted a legitimate chance to add a superstar point guard after the Bucks shockingly released Damian Lillard on Tuesday morning.
Dame tore his achilles in the playoffs after rushing back from missing time due to a blood clot. The Bucks were in a bad spot and chose to waive and stretch the rest of Lillard’s contract, releasing him, while agreeing to pay over $22 million over the next five years. They quickly used the newfound cap space to add Myles Turner, while sending the injured Dame to free agency.
Just in: The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Damian Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to acquire Myles Turner, sources tell ESPN. Lillard's two seasons in Milwaukee come to an end as he rehabilitates a torn Achilles tendon. pic.twitter.com/eg1D1TMFM6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
This is a completely unique situation as Lillard will be getting paid his guaranteed money from the Bucks, but will now have the opportunity to sign with any team he wants for any price as he recovers from surgery.
In a way, it certainly seems like the Bucks are doing Dame dirty here, but reports indicate that he is “ecstatic” with this development. He now gets to heal and rehab on his own terms, hit free agency two years early, and set himself up to return to the NBA when he’s completely ready, in the situation of his choosing.
Nuggets could offer Lillard chance at title
Reportedly, over 10 teams have already reached out to Lillard, including multiple contenders. At this point in his career, it’s impossible to know exactly what Dame values and prioritizes, but if he wants a chance to win his first championship, he should strongly consider playing in Denver.
The Nuggets could offer Lillard the midlevel exception right now, or he could just take a minimum if he’s truly committed to winning at all costs. He could ease his way back into a team that is already deep and would have a perfect role waiting for him whenever he returns.
Lillard is still one of the best point guards in the league and one of the best shooters of all time. His ability to create and knock down threes, pressure the defense, and get to the free throw line, and space the floor would be massive boons for the Nuggets.
His pick-and-roll game with Nikola Jokic would be absolutely lethal, and the three-man game and dribble hand-offs with Jokic, Lillard, and Jamal Murray would be cinematic. Denver would have the potential for an all-time elite offensive juggernaut, and Lillard would just be the icing on the cake.
He’ll have many suitors, and Denver likely doesn’t top his list. But if Dame purely wants to choose basketball fit and a chance to win, the future Hall of Famer should join the Nuggets.