The Bucks’ looming dilemma amid a breakthrough season: Four of their starters – Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and Malcolm Brogdon – can become free agents next summer.
Milwaukee projects to have about $67 below the luxury-tax line next season to keep those four. That calculation included the Bucks getting Mirza Teletovic’s salary excluded. Milwaukee applied for career-ending-injury relief last month, and an NBA Fitness to Play panel has apparently ruled.
Shams Charania of The Athletic:
Sources on @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: The NBA has granted the Milwaukee Bucks relief of Mirza Teletovic’s contract due to career-ending injury, removing $10.5 million on salary books.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2018
Teletovic was counting $3.5 million toward the salary cap and luxury tax this season and each of the next two seasons. He’ll still get paid, but that money getting cleared from salary-cap and luxury-tax calculations will be a boon to the Bucks – an expected one.
After experiencing blockages in his lungs and blood clots in his lungs, Teletovic had already announced his retirement. He has moved on.
Now, Milwaukee can, too – with the most favorable payroll conditions.
