Where should Damian Lillard play next?
The former nine-time All-Star Milwaukee Bucks point guard, who'll turn 35 in a matter of days, was stretched-and-waived by Milwaukee after suffering a likely 2025-26 season-ending Achilles tendon tear during the first round of this past spring's playoffs.
The Bucks will now pay the 6-foot-2 Weber State product $22.5 million to not play for them across the next five seasons. The move opened up cap space for Milwaukee, enabling the club to ink former 3-and-D Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a four-year, $108.9 million free agent contract.
Lillard is now a free agent, although he's in the midst of an effective "gap year" while he recovers from the Achilles tear.
While talking with former 14-year NBA wing Jim Jackson on a new episode of his show "Podcast P With Paul George", nine-time All-Star Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George vouched for Lillard signing with the Houston Rockets — one of the most active franchises this summer.
Where will Damian Lillard play next? 🤔
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) July 7, 2025
PG thinks Houston is a good fit, Jim Jackson thinks Minnesota or Portland 👀 pic.twitter.com/eZEqHisQj2
"Put him with Houston," George said. "You put him on that team where there is a KD, there's defense around him. There's length around him. If it's a smaller guard, pair him with length around him."
In perhaps the biggest blockbuster deal of the summer, the Rockets traded wings Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in last month's draft (used on Duke center Khaman Maluach), and five second rounders to acquire 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant. The Rockets also swiped 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, to a four-season, $52.7 million free agent deal.
Houston also reunited with rim-rolling center Clint Capela as part of a sign-and-trade deal that was later rolled into the seven-team deal for Durant. The Rockets also extended center Steven Adams and re-signed point guard Fred VanVleet and forwards Jeff Green and Jae'Sean Tate, and guard Aaron Holiday.
Last year, the Rockets went 52-30 and secured the West's No. 2 seed, ony to fall in seven games to the lower-seeded Golden State Warriors. Next season's iteration, by benefit of bringing in Durant and Finney-Smith and retaining VanVleet and Adams, figures to be a legitimate threat to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder's throne for conference supremacy.
Adding Lillard will make the club that much more intimidating in the West, whenever he does make his return. He's one of the most prolific three-point shooters of all time, and an infamously clutch scorer. How much those skills will be impacted from his injury remains to be seen.
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