The Milwaukee Bucks’ busy Tuesday continues apace.
After it was announced that the team would be waiving-and-stretching nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to accommodate the four-year, $107 million salary of 3-and-D center Myles Turner (a 10-year Indiana Pacers mainstay who had just co-starred in the team’s first NBA Finals run since 2000), many wondered how Milwaukee would address its need for backcourt scoring in 2025-26.
Lillard is likely out for next year while he recovers from a surgically repaired Achilles tendon he tore during a first round playoff series loss to Turner’s Pacers.
Now, Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the Bucks will bring in journeyman shooting guard Gary Harris on a two-year deal for that very fit. Charania reports that will have a player option for 2026-27.
Free agent forward Gary Harris has agreed to a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, with a player option on the second season, sources tell ESPN. Bucks continue to fortify the roster with a veteran wing who played key rotation roles for playoff teams in Denver and Orlando. pic.twitter.com/q5OLpDfEqo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
The 6-foot-4 Michigan State product, 30, had his worst-ever professional season while with the Orlando Magic in 2024-25. He averaged a career-low 3.0 points on .383/.356/.583 shooting splits, 1.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.5 steals a night. Harris has lost the dynamic athleticism that made him, for a while, a lethal threat with the Denver Nuggets. His health and confidence have slowly been eroding since he was dealt to the magic midway through 2020-21.
Still, he likely comes cheap, which is ideal for a Bucks team that will now be burning $22.5 million annually on an absentee Lillard. Harris is also a career 36.9% three-point shooter on 4.0 triple tries per bout.
Without Lillard and with the advent of Harris, it remains to be seen how Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers will juggle his backcourt rotations on a refurbished Bucks squad. In a narrow closeout Game 5 playoff loss to the Pacers, Rivers started Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. — both of whom just agreed to re-sign with the team on Monday.
Terms of the Harris deal have yet to be reported, but given his production last season and the Bucks’ cap limitations, it’s likely to be a veteran’s minimum commensurate with his NBA experience.
