Warriors Move on 9-Time All-Star Running Mate for Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors are entering a potentially pivotal offseason, and it could see them double down on their decision to add Jimmy Butler with someone he once sought to have join him on the Miami Heat: Damian Lillard.

The Milwaukee Bucks waived and stretched Lillard, who had two more seasons and $112.6 million remaining on his contract, thanks to a two-year, $122 million contract extension.

In the aftermath, the Warriors emerged as a team of interest.

“Another thing that I’m hearing, of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors are one of those teams,” ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said on “NBA Today”, per Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek on July 1. “This is a guy that grew up going to games at Oracle Arena, sneaking into the media room getting sodas. Grew up a Warriors fan. That’s interesting.

“Hearing that the Warriors do have interest in Dame, I know that’s very interesting to Bay Area people.”

Lillard is a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection.

He would be the most accomplished backcourt mate Stephen Curry has ever had, though his fit is far more questionable than that of former Warriors star Klay Thompson.

Warriors Could Benefit From Bucks’ Decision on Damian Lillard

Lillard, who turns 35 on July 15, would join Curry in the Warriors star’s age-38 season. Both have dealt with injuries in recent seasons. The former Portland Trail Blazers star, Lillard, dealt with deep vein thrombosis that sidelined him for the final 14 games of the regular season.

He returned during the playoffs but tore his Achilles in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Indiana Pacers.

Lillard is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 regular season.

“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,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X on July 1.

“The Bucks found a creative path to waive and stretch Lillard – whose $113M will be stretched over the next five seasons – while leaving their future draft assets untouched. In a stunning turn of events, Myles Turner departs the Pacers to join the Bucks.”

Lillard may be on the Warriors’ radar. More importantly, he sought to join Butler in South Beach before being traded to the Bucks.

That could give the Warriors a leg up in any pursuit.

Insider Answers ‘Big Question’ About Damian Lillard

The Warriors’ ability to remain under the luxury tax amid the ongoing uncertainty around restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga could prove critical to landing Lillard, who is “ecstatic” about the “incredible opportunity” ahead of him, per his agent, Aaron Goodwin, via Spears.

According to Spears, Lillard plans to rehab in Portland. That way, he can remain close to his family, which is “extremely important” for the PG.

Moreover, the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception could appeal to Lillard.

“He gets to be a free agent two years early, choose where he wants to go. Money really doesn’t matter right now, because he’s still getting paid by the Bucks,” Spears said. “He’ll be around. And how many teams are calling? Oh, they’re calling. There’s about double-digit number of teams calling, interested in him.

“I think the big question, too, is, ‘Well, when will Dame be back? There’s some speculation that he could be back around the All-Star break. So, if he signs with a team, it’s probably going to be, may well be a two-year deal, which gives him a very economical deal for that team, but also allows him to do a two-year, kind of, try out. See how it is. See if it’s a place he could be long-term.”

The Warriors must be willing to do what it takes for a potential half-year of Lillard. There is also a risk that he is either not the same when he returns or leaves after next offseason. It could even be an unfortunate middle ground.