BREAKING: Free agent center Myles Turner has agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a player option for year four in 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. Stunner. pic.twitter.com/MlDkZusVOv— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

Turner, the longest tenured Pacer, made it known he wished to remain in Indiana. Since the Game 7 exit, Turner’s reps pushed to get a deal done. Ultimately, Indiana’s aversion to the tax, which grew after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, allowed Bucks to get the new franchise center. https://t.co/lZqZudrUWg— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

Milwaukee is basically paying 48m per season for the next four years for the right to have Myles Turner. His 26M a year salary and the 22M cap hit for waiving and stretching Dame’s contract.— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) July 1, 2025

"This is mortgaging your mortgage to buy a sports car."@WindhorstESPN weighs in on the Bucks waiving Damian Lillard to acquire Myles Turner 👀 pic.twitter.com/2hMjzCJUag— First Take (@FirstTake) July 1, 2025

It’s kind of funny that after a literal decade of trade rumors, Myles Turner ultimately moves through a free agency stunner.Also, sort of funny how the Pacers resisted years of offers only to let him walk for free after reaching Game 7 of the Finals.— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) July 1, 2025

Aaaaaand that would be just fine.

Ahh yes, the “we didn’t mean to cause all this hullabaloo” media mea culpa. Classic Rich Paul…

Hopefully not. Prefer Richard’s at this point. Cheaper, about as good, less of a head case.

“Lakers are prioritizing 2-year contracts right now. They want to have max salary space in 2027. What we're seeing right now is essentially a moment of truth between Lebron James and the Lakers”- Shams 👀 pic.twitter.com/wLMOG19297— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 1, 2025

Lakers, according to team sources, offered two years against the four-year, $53 million deal he got with Houston because they wanted to maintain as much future flexibility as possible to be in position to land a superstar down the line to pair with Dončić.H/T @DanWoikeSports pic.twitter.com/vz9OKugmo0— Washed LakersvsHaters (@notlakersgm) July 1, 2025

Man. This BS is exhausting. Like…what are they supposed to do? Let an iconic franchise just be held hostage by a 43 year old? Absurd…

FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:

LA’s target list, which began the day with Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and Ayton on it, quickly shrank to one by the early evening with Lopez agreeing to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and Capela heading to Houston via a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

Ayton was clearly the team’s top priority. He was picked first in the same draft as Dončić, shares an agency with Dončić under Bill Duffy, who heads WME basketball, and is best equipped to give the Lakers the rolling lob threat Dončić has thrived alongside. Signing Ayton is not without risk – The Athletic’s Jason Quick detailed those in his piece on Ayton’s time with the Blazers — but a return to high-stakes basketball at a critical juncture in his career combined with a point guard who can prop up centers who are way less talented certainly makes this seem worth it.

However, there’s competition. The Milwaukee Bucks, who lost Lopez to the Clippers in free agency, are trying to remain competitive and have access to the full mid-level exception after some cap creativity and a need for a center — giving them the ability to offer roughly $6 million more than the Lakers.

That means the Lakers remain in the middle of one of free agency’s biggest storylines.

And with a team that still has a sale to close, an extension to finalize with Dončić and the handling of James’ final chapters all still to come, they’re probably not going anywhere.

Yeah, I got Goodwin ahead of Bronny lol

Also we’re likely going to waive Shake.

Do we own our 1st round pick next year? Are we actively trying to tank? Is Rob attempting to sabotage us before Bob Meyers takes his job? Even with whoever’s left to play center, this roster is worse than this past season. Apparently, we won’t be playing any defense….

Jake LaRivia Is Dorian Finney-Smith Replacement!Lakers sign younger power forward in 23-year old Jake LaRivia to replace 32-year old Dorian Finney-Smith. 2-years, $12M for the 6' 7", 235 lb forward who averaged 6.9 pts, 3.9 rebs, 2.4 asts, 0.3 blks, 0.9 stls in just 20.4 mpg… https://t.co/EMy6AMNqem pic.twitter.com/ICmAmn7Yi1— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 30, 2025

W recruiting Austin Reaves and Trevor Lane😂😂@Trevor_Lane pic.twitter.com/9tQOMqvd3o— Washed LakersvsHaters (@notlakersgm) June 30, 2025

(think there's a good shot LaRavia is an upgrade of DFS for the Lakers. If not an upgrade, at least very close for a fraction of the price)— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) June 30, 2025

Los Angeles Lakers salary cap and apron situation after signing Jake LaRavia, presumably with a portion of their mid-level exception.They have $8.3 million remaining of their mid-level.$13.9 million below the first apron hard cap with 12 players. pic.twitter.com/JwYojvaowl— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2025

Jake LaRavia can. Shoot. Some questions about the athleticism and defense, but he could be a fire alarm shooter. pic.twitter.com/zOxnr99ZF5— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) June 30, 2025

He nice pic.twitter.com/ext7MojUw9— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) June 30, 2025

You’re telling me the Lakers just got this 2-way demon wing for FREE?? pic.twitter.com/FfWUK0eHF6— Jake (@playoffjake) June 30, 2025

If you’re a Lakers fan and don’t know much about Jake LaRavia: I wrote my biggest feature of the year about him earlier this year.Learn more about why Los Angeles made him one of their biggest priorities in free agency this offseason.https://t.co/szEH7KXNZA— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) June 30, 2025

Less money, more years. Lakers made right move assuming Ayton is a lock for NT MLE.