Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
I’m so fascinated by the Lillard situation. Does a team sign him now ahead of a lost year? Is he looking for another sizable contract on top of what he had left in MIL? What’s the best team for his timeline & outlook at this point in his career?
Miami makes most sense to me. – 6:01 PM

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Though some good players agreed to deals at the minimum (Hardaway with Denver; Nance with Cleveland; Clarkson with Knicks), I kind of like Heat keeping open 15th spot for Lillard or any other surprising cuts. I love the idea of front-loading a two-year Lillard contract using – 5:47 PM

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
The Bucks decided to waive-and-stretch the $112.6 million owed to Damian Lillard. That’s not only the largest stretch-waive ever in NBA history, it’s more than the total sum of the 3 previous largest stretch-waive contracts I could find (Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Nic Batum) – 5:40 PM

David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
The business side of basketball is cold, but I’m happy for Damian Lillard overall. Gets his money, gets to choose his next team, really attacking his rehab — the world is his oyster. – 4:35 PM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
Intel here on what’s next for Damian Lillard, who now finds himself in the sort of powerful position not often seen in pro sports and who, sources say, is quite pleased with this outcome, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/64657… – 1:27 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I wonder if Portland would have any interest in signing Damian Lillard to a one-year minimum contract.
He could rehab near his family and use the Blazers facility, and they might like having him around for the young guys.
Then he could join a contender when healthy in 2026. – 1:09 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
What kind of production are people expecting from Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, or Tyrese Haliburton in 2025-26?
Those last three I don’t expect to play at all. If Irving is back before March (and/or playing at a star level at any point), I’d be surprised. – 12:45 PM

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard Achilles injuries altered courses for Pacers and Bucks. Haliburton’s injury gave Pacers pause paying luxury tax and led to them losing Myles Turner to Bucks, who will waive and stretch Dame to add Turner to compete around Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12:20 PM

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Per source, Lillard will spend some time deciding whether he wants to sign multi-year deal with team and rehab a year or just sit out a year without being on a team. Whether Heat would pursue remains to be seen. He has always liked Miami, as you all know, and that hasn’t changed, – 12:12 PM

Tim Cato @tim_cato
this is good for dame, acceptable for the pacers given their situation, and at least reasonable from the bucks’ perspective. don’t think milwaukee gets significantly better but if refreshing the roster around giannis was the goal, this is a success. – 11:58 AM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Don’t feel bad for Damian Lillard. This is a win-win. Dame had a player option for next summer that he was considering not exercising. No secret living away from family in Milwaukee was a challenge. So he gets his $ and is now an unrestricted free agent free to go where HE wants. – 11:56 AM

Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
The Damian Lillard trade had risk and the worst-case scenario ended up happening.
They’re down Jrue, an unprotected first, two swaps, and now have to pay Lillard $22.5 million a year not to play for the next five years. – 11:29 AM