The Milwaukee Bucks won this offseason by abandoning Damien Lillard and signing Miles Turner a four-year, $107 million contract.
The franchise expanded Lillard’s contract over the course of five years, committing large sums of money to the former Pacers Center.
The move sparked immediate responses across the NBA community. Bill Simmons criticized the decision as a “idiot,” but Kendrick Perkins believes the Bucks will be able to comfortably secure playoff seed with the addition of Turner next season.
Head coach Doc Rivers defended the franchise’s controversial decision, highlighting how Myles Turner will address the needs of a particular roster.
The veteran coach highlighted Turner’s age and versatility as key factors in his signature, and also acknowledged the difficulty of Damien Lillard’s contractual decisions.
“You couldn’t fit any better. He needs to be a little younger. People forget that he’s 29. He’s younger than Giannis. Looking at that terminology, Rivers recently appeared on ESPN.
“He can play multiple positions. Obviously five, but he can turn on defense. He has proven he can do that in the playoffs. He can roll and make shots. He needs a great stretch player to stretch the floor.”
“Having him on the floor was a huge thing for our franchise, and we were extending our dam contracts, but that wasn’t easy,” he added.
The addition of Turner should significantly improve the Bucks’ offensive interval. Despite appearing to rely on point guard plays like Indiana’s Tyreese Halliburton, Turner shot 39.6% above ARC last season.
With its ability to stretch the floor, Milwaukee gives a different dimension around the Giannis Antetocompo. Turner range creates two MVP drive lanes and offers another reliable three-point threat.
Rivers also outlined his vision for the team’s playing style next season, highlighting the pace and defensive consistency from improvements later in the season.
The coaches have identified specific areas for improvement heading into a new campaign. “We were able to play faster. Defensively, we started slowly, but by the end of the year we were really a solid defensive team. We want to take it from where we left off defensively.”
Last season was unfortunately finished for Milwaukee, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference and fell to the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Lillard’s injuries during that series marked his final appearance as $1.
Turner’s signature represents a bet on youth and versatility for veteran leadership. Whether this gambling will be rewarded depends on Turner’s ability to replicate the success of his shooting, providing the value of a defensive switching river.