Damian Lillard is finalizing A return to the Portland Trailblazers
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The nine-time NBA All-Star is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. The deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 season and a no-trade clause, making Lillard only the second player in the NBA with such protection alongside LeBron James. This reunion marks the end of a tumultuous two-year period that saw Portland's franchise cornerstone traded to Milwaukee and subsequently waived after suffering a career-threatening injury.
The Financial Reality of Injury and Loyalty
Lillard's return comes under unique circumstances. The 35-year-old point guard tore his left Achilles tendon during Milwaukee's first-round playoff series against Indiana in April and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season while rehabilitating. The Bucks waived Lillard on July 1, stretching his remaining $113 million contract over five years to create salary cap space for signing center Myles Turner.
Despite receiving multiple midlevel exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders, Lillard chose Portland over championship-contending teams. His total earnings for 2025-26 will reach $70 million when combining his stretched Milwaukee payments with his new Portland contract.
Strategic Value Beyond Statistics
The signing represents more than nostalgia for Portland's front office. Lillard brings veteran leadership to a young roster amid a rebuild, while his rehabilitation year allows the franchise to integrate him gradually into their evolving system without immediate pressure for playoff contention.
Portland has transformed significantly since trading Lillard in 2023. The team received Jrue Holiday, assets, and draft picks in the original deal, then flipped Holiday to Boston for additional pieces before reacquiring him this offseason. The Blazers now possess both their former franchise player and the assets gained from his departure, creating a unique roster construction scenario.
Lillard's Portland tenure established him as the franchise's all-time leader in points (19,376) and three-pointers (2,387). During his 11 seasons, he guided the team to eight playoff appearances, including a Western Conference Finals run in 2019. His 71-point performance against Houston in his final Portland season made him just the seventh player in NBA history to reach that scoring milestone.
The reunion addresses the aftermath of his 2023 trade request, which fractured relationships between Lillard and portions of the fanbase. His choice to return despite more lucrative options from contending teams suggests priorities have shifted toward family proximity and franchise loyalty over immediate championship aspirations.
