Star point guard Damian Lillard is open to signing with a team during the 2025 offseason if the terms and conditions are right, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
Lillard has received “ample” interest from teams since word broke that he was being waived by the Bucks for cap reasons while he recovers from a torn Achilles, but he isn’t in a rush to make his decision, Haynes adds.
Technically, Lillard is still a Buck, as the team hasn’t yet placed him on waivers. There has been no rush to do it right away, since most signings and trades can’t be completed until 11:00 am Central time on Sunday, once the July moratorium ends. However, I’d expect the move to happen in the coming days so that Milwaukee has the cap room necessary to complete their deal with Myles Turner sooner rather than later.
Agent Aaron Goodwin put out a statement on Tuesday referring to being waived as an “incredible opportunity” for Lillard, who will continue to be paid the $112.6MM owed to him by the Bucks as he rehabs his Achilles tear and weighs his next move. One report on Tuesday evening indicated that at least 10 teams had already touched base with the nine-time All-Star, with the Celtics, Warriors, and Lakers said to be among them.
While Marc J. Spears of Andscape said during an ESPN appearance that there’s “speculation” about Lillard returning around the 2026 All-Star break, that feels like an aggressive timeline, given that the veteran’s Achilles tear occurred in late April. He’ll turn 35 later this month and it wouldn’t be in his best interest to rush his return from an injury that often costs players a full calendar year.
Spears also stated that Lillard wants to rehab his injury in Portland in order to be close to his family, so even if he were to sign with a new team this offseason, it’s unclear how much time he’d actually spend around that club this fall.
Still, it’s no surprise that a number of teams would be willing to use one of their 15-man roster spots on Lillard in 2025/26 — even if he’s not able to return before the end of the season, that would give the club the opportunity to build a relationship with him ahead of his return to full strength next year.
So this really puts all teams in a bad spot if they are interested in Dame. They need to keep a roster spot open along with cap space if they are already at 14 players.
I was just going to ask, if he is out for the year, does he count as a roster spot? If he does, teams don’t typically use all their roster spots, and being a vet on the minimum helps the finances no? Only having to pay 13 players to play and 1 on a vet min might be appealing to some teams who are operating over aprons. Doesn’t it also allow him to use team/league resources like doctors and facilities? Or does their union give them access?
I know most teams really only play 10-12 players all year if even that if there are no injuries. He would still count on the roster if he doesn’t play. You are correct that he would want to sign with a team to be able to use their doctors and staff along with the facilities.
The smart play is to sign him and let him rehab where ever he wants. The team can send people out to check on his progress. Sadly, you have to make him happy and hope he signs back when he is healthy.
I don’t believe Injured players count as a roster spot. However I think a team would have to temporarily have an open roster spot for 1 day in order to sign him before designating him as injured.
Injured players do count towards a roster spot. And no, a team can have a maximum of 21 players rostered during the offseason. The number drops down at the cutdown date the day before the NBA season.
A team can sign him this year and stash him in the D league or hold his rights while he in Europe. But yeah there’s no IL in the NBA.
Guys lets be crystal clear, most teams already donate a roster spot to a guy who’ll only play token minutes. Between Haslem, Thanasis, James Johnson, PJ Tucker, Bronny James, Garrett Temple, Joe Ingles, Anthony Gill, etc etc etc.
There are way worse uses of a roster spot than an injured HOF who made the All-Star team 5 months ago.
The story that keeps giving.
For what? To come back after a year to shoot 35 percent and get smoked on defense?
To work and continue to feel like he’s doing what he can for his family? Or doing what he likes to do as long as he can.
Would these things please you?
If someone is willing to pay for it then sure.
A team would only need to pay him the veteran’s minimum. When I hear people worrying about whether he’ll be 100% or be willing to play off-ball, I just think you have to be nuts to think that one of the best shooters of his generation wouldn’t have value at or near the minimum salary even if he is only a bench guard. And what team wouldn’t be willing to take a chance on that ultimately? Whether he signs a contract now or in the New Year, Dame gets to pick his spot and wherever he goes I think he’ll be a value at that price.
Not necessarily vet minimum. Sounds like there isn’t any salary offset for the stretch buyout, so there can be a bidding war and Lillard can double-dip.
One of the best shooters?
The trade for Lillard will go down as one of the worst trades the Bucks ever made…
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers for Junior Bridgeman and David Myers?
They got draft picks also for Lew, if I remember, with the highest pick used to draft Marques Johnson.
Right …..😀
Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity (flipped for Steve Nash) for Robert Tractor Traylor too.
You actually think that was worse than the Lillard trade? You have no clue about professional basketball…You also forgot about Brian Winters and Elmore Smith.
First off, Holiday did NOT demand a trade out of Milwaukee. Second, 3 of the 4 players the Bucks received were All-Stars multiple years. Third, 2 of the 4 players have had their numbers retired by the Bucks, and that’s NOT including Jabbar.
No, I don’t pretend to make my whole identity about professional basketball. You’re so cool.
Ming312, I think he was referring to my comment.
But I was just adding to the conversation as noted by my question mark, Not making a definitive statement refuting the original comment.
But that’s OK. A lot is lost in translation here, sort of like texting.
Good discussion though and going back in history is always very interesting.
Missed the “?” in your reply. My bad.
Ming312…learn how to read threads and lay off the booze.
All good. When I first got into basketball, I was a huge bucks fan from about 1980 to about 85 or so. Then coach Nelson moved to the Bay Area and coincidentally so did I. Warriors fan ever since but those bucks years were pretty exciting.
Warriors need a good reliable scorer. Come to the Warriors and retire as a Warriors. Take over as the leader when Steph retires in 3-4 years
It felt like lillard’s achilles wont take him far, curry is 37 but with lillard’s injury, it seems curry is 34 and lillard’s 37
Dame is a shooter, he will be fine
So was Klay but he ain’t the same.
I know their not competitive but why not just sign with Portland? I’m sure they’d love to have him and he can rehab/ mentor until he wants to leave. They can easily buy him out of a minimum contract at near seasons end or he could wait until next year to go ring chasing. I just feel like he has always valued being close to his family in light of this report and leaving Portland in the first place.
Nah too many emotional heart strings…
He needed a fresh start.
Get well Dame ……. you can go where you want next year……. Knicks for playoffs
Lakers or Knicks probably. Will he be healthy in time is the better question.