In a move that is therapeutic and helpful for both sides, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers will reunite.
Lillard, who was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month, plans to sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers, the team with which he spent the first 11 seasons of his career, according to ESPN.
Lillard’s contract with Portland is expected to include a no-trade clause.
Lillard sustained a torn left Achilles tendon against Indiana in the first round of the NBA playoffs in April and will miss the entire 2025-26 season as he recovers and rebabs.
The nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA performer could’ve signed with just about any team but decided to return to the team that drafted him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft.
The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Lillard in a trade just before the start of the 2023-24 season, and the Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo looked great on paper. But it never yielded the success the Bucks sought, and Lillard missed his family back in Portland.
What does Blazers deal mean for Lillard?
Lillard returns to the team and city that are home for him. He could’ve joined a team that is closer to contention, but he gets to be close to family again and can work out and rehab at the Blazers’ practice facility under the supervision of team doctors and training staff.
Returning from an Achilles injury isn’t easy but multiple players have returned and played well, including Kevin Durant. Last season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals and shot 44.8% from the field, 37.6% on 3-pointers and 92.1% on free throws in 58 games. He made the All-Star team for the third consecutive season after missing it 2022.
He is another veteran voice who serve as a a de facto assistant coach for the Blazers this season and helps the team on and off the court when he’s ready to return for five-on-five.
What does the Lillard deal mean for the Blazers?
Portland is in a rebuild and showed progress last season, increasing its win total from the previous season by 15 games from 21-61 in 2023-24 to 36-46 in 2024-35 – and head coach Chauncey Billups received an extension in the offseason.
The Blazers lost Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton in the offseason, but acquired Jrue Holiday from Boston in the Simons trade, and drafted Yang Hansen in the first round of the June draft.
The team features Scott Henderson, Matisse Thybulle, Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, Robert Williams and Holiday.
The Blazers have a first-round protected lottery pick in 2026, 2027 and 2028 that can be conveyed to Chicago if the pick is Nos. 15-30 and have favorable draft capital in 2028 and 2029.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Damian Lillard returns to Portland in 3-year deal with Trail Blazers
