The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a respectable 48-34 season run that ended with a disappointing five-game first round playoff series exit, marking the third straight year the team was booted that early.
More critically, the Bucks lost their second-best player, superstar point guard Damian Lillard, to one of the most devastating injuries it’s possible to suffer in the NBA. The 6-foot-2 Weber State product tore his Achilles tendon, and the ailment figures to knock him out of most or all of the 2025-26 season.
Story: Reporting on the future of Jonas Valanciunas, why Deandre Ayton committed to the Los Angeles Lakers over several other teams, and NBA free agency rumblings for @hoopshype. https://t.co/aB4EXjcoWj
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 4, 2025
Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Bucks had been eyeing free agent point guard Tre Mann ahead of his decision to re-sign with the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year, $24 million deal.
Milwaukee is evidently still on the hunt for a Lillard replacement, having waived-and-stretched the remaining $112.6 million left on the nine-time All-Star’s contract to carve out a spot for 3-and-D center Myles Turner. The 29-year-old Texas product signed a four-season, $107 million deal to serve as the Bucks’ Brook Lopez replacement, after Turner embarrassed Lopez while playing for Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs.
The 6-foot-3 Florida product played sparingly for Charlotte in 2024-25, but he did put up solid numbers, averaging 14.1 points on .435/.400/.905 shooting splits, 3.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 13 healthy bouts.
Just because Mann, 24, went elsewhere, doesn’t mean the Bucks are totally bereft of options. Former 12-time All-Star Chris Paul and former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon remain on the market, as does the more offensively-limited Russell Westbrook. Bulls restricted free agent Josh Giddey may be beyond the Bucks’ budget. Milwaukee’s own free agent point guard, Ryan Rollins, remains unsigned, too.
