Star point guard Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42MM contract to return to the Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports that the deal is expected to feature a player option for the 2027/28 season and a no-trade clause.
Zach Lowe of The Ringer first stated (Twitter link) that the Blazers and Lillard had mutual interest in a reunion, with Bill Oram of The Oregonian reporting shortly thereafter that the two sides were in “deep discussions” about a contract and that Lillard was “strongly considering” a return to Portland.
Lillard is expected to miss the entire 2025/26 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in late April during Milwaukee’s first-round playoff series vs. Indiana. The Bucks waived the 35-year-old guard earlier this month and used the stretch provision on his previous contract in order to create the cap space necessary to sign Myles Turner.
It’s a stunning turn of events considering the contentious way in which Portland’s all-time leading scorer exited the franchise after he requested a trade two years ago.
According to Charania, Lillard met with general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups multiple times in recent weeks to “bond” and hash out a new deal. Lillard’s family and children live in Portland and he considered it to be of the utmost importance to reunite with the organization and city, says Charania.
Lillard drew interest from several teams on the open market and had multiple offers for both the mid-level exception and the veteran’s minimum, sources tell Charania. The Timberwolves were among the teams that checked in on Lillard, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, though it’s unclear how serious those talks were.
NBA insider Chris Haynes hears (Twitter link) that Cronin and Lillard “made amends” at the nine-time All-Star’s house “weeks ago.” The goal is for Lillard to retire as a Trail Blazer, Haynes adds.
As Marc Stein of The Stein Line observes (via Twitter), despite not playing for the Trail Blazers for the past two seasons, Lillard is eligible for a full no-trade clause because he has at least eight years of NBA service time and spent at least four years with Portland. He spent his first 11 NBA seasons as a Blazer after being selected No. 6 overall back in 2012.
Lillard remained highly productive last season when healthy, averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 58 regular season contests (36.1 minutes per game). Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf in March, and suffered the major Achilles injury in his third game back after a remarkably fast recovery from the deep vein thrombosis.
It makes sense. He lives there and can rehab with the team while he’s primarily paid by Milwaukee.
he’s pushing 40 though, he has no long term future in the NBA. He will likely get bought out in year 2 and retire.
That part makes sense, but they probably won’t be a very good team. Also, what does this mean for the young backcourt. Don’t they also have Jrue? I’m sure more moves are coming, but this doesn’t make much sense when it comes to on-court fit
He’s not playing this year.
Yeah instead he will be a year older and coming off a serious injury when he eventually does come back and takes playing time away from young players.
Way to go Portland! After trading Simons they desperately needed a couple 35 yr olds to obstruct Shaedon Sharpe’s development. Perfect offseason!
Portland legend and when you have nothing else going for you. Let him pump into their young ears that Portland is a place you can hang your hat and raise a family. I see this only working in their favor. The kind of money he signed for he doesn’t have to start either.
It’s the end of a career. He is going home …..
If it makes the fans happy it is probably worth the money. But yes they seem to have a crowded back court once again…or at least they will at some point in 26/27 when dame gets back on the court.
Damian Lillard going back to the Portland Trail Blazers is a great move! He’s been the best player in franchise history and deserves to retire with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He tried to go and play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks and found out the grass ain’t always greener on the other side.
Horrible. No rings for Damian Lillard. Not even gonna go for it and sign with a contender.
He’s calling it a career and placing sentimental value on happiness, family, and all that stuff.
I guess it’s a nice move coming off injury and thinking you’re not going to be as effective as before.
But I think he’s wrong. I think he can still be an effective player especially the way he shoots the ball.
The guy works harder than anyone And he’s a dog as we’ve seen so many times in big games.
I thought he might pull a Gary Payton Karl Malone thing and give it a shot at least, but it looks like he’s calling it a day.
Well, a pretty nice career and a tip of the cap for being a player of consequence. He was a mamba for sure. I just wish he wouldn’t give up like this.
I can just hear you guys now. Trashing me for my take.
That’s fine. He’s going home and family and easing into the rocking chair. That’s great.
I’m just disappointed because I think he has a lot to give to a contender still. That’s all.
Much respect to the man. I hope that’s not lost in my comment above.
Why do u care what others think on here think, 95% of these guys in here are one brain cell away from being legally basketball brain dead.
Lol, right !! And you can include me in that a certain percentage of the time too.
Well, just because I don’t want to appear disrespectful to the player.
All these guys who make it to this level deserve my respect as players 100%.
This is true! I’m always right but very few other people are.
Everyone believing or hoping they are in the 5%, including me.
Will you be my best friend to?
His next ball will be at age 36 coming off a major surgery. Nobody knows what he’s going to be at this point. Hell this may even be the most lucrative option he could get on top of going home. I can understand where you’re coming from but it seems premature to say so definitively.
You never know how things will turn out. Three years before OKC won the title its record was 24-58. With some lucky personnel moves, Rip City could be in a similar situation at the back end of Lillard’s deal.
Yeah, your take is definitely mostly trash. Great self-awareness!
Idt he has much left to offer. He’s constantly targeted on defense. He’ll be way way past his prime after this injury and if he was so great why was Milwaukee just meh while he’s playing with one of the 5 best players in the association? Classic example of a guy averaging 25 a game but giving up 30 on the other side. All-time great hooper but he’s nothing special anymore, which is fine. He had a great career.
It’s a thoughtful and respectful take, Gary. No Dame fan should be offended because we all hoped he would get a ring before he retired.
I would have preferred to see Dame chase a ring on than sit on the bench for a losing team. Portland is a few years away because the West is so tough, and they’re not sitting Scoot for Dame.
Already writing Portland off contending in the next years? This is already a playoff-contending team, that last year had a great second half of the season, competing for a play-in/playoff spot until the last weeks of the season.
They got better in the Jrue-Simons swap, as Holiday is a proven team-oriented former All Star who was a key starter in 2 NBA championships in the last 4 years, with two different franchises (top two or three player in MIL).
They freed up playing time for Clingan in the Ayton buyout.
They have a rising wing in Sharpe.
They have proven playoff performers in Grant (coming off low years) and Thybulle (same).
They also have an important wild card in Rob Williams.
They have Scoot and young bench players that are still developing.
They are a Zion trade away, to be a bona fide playoff team, with the upside to grow into a contender.
Crowded backcourt: If Scoot is not an All-NBA player, in Portland, by the next 2 years at most, a trade might not be out of the question. Scoot + salary matching + unprotected first= Zion.
Lillard Jrue Sharpe Zion Clingan
or
Jrue Sharpe a Christian Braun type of player (Or 76ers Thybulle) Zion Clingan
Off the bench
Lillard Banton Thybulle Avdija RobWill / Reath
I forgot Deni Avdija! Broke out in the 2nd half of the season!
That’s a contender
Wild card 2: Ben 10
That is a horrible take. He’s going back to where his family is and where he was actually happy. It’s really a 2 year deal since year 3 is a player option. If he really wants to chase a ring at that point he will still have the opportunity.
I dunno. He spent years saying asking for a trade doesn’t always work out the way you think it will. That seemed like part of the reason why he was reluctant to do it. Well when he did ask for a trade it went poorly.
Similarly, a lot of players who sign as ring chasers often don’t end up with the ring.
I was not expecting him to sign with Portland, but I can see a lot of reasons why he would.
ah yes, horrible decision to choose family and happiness over a ring no one talks about. how often when you’re talking about the heat team that Payton won a ring with do you bring up his contributions?
It’s OK that you don’t agree with it but I think that window of competing for a championship is very short, especially in your mid 30s.
I think you can put off family and living at home for two more years and try to make it happen.
You can’t go back and do it later. Go for it now. That’s my mindset.
In three years, he can spend 24/7 with his family and then for the rest of his life. He’ll still be under 40 years old lol. Just my opinion.
> that window of competing for a championship is
> very short, especially in your mid 30s.
Thank you. Undeniably true.
But doesn’t it seem that NBA teams (and players) these days don’t want to accept reality? Because old guys with injury histories are getting PAID BIG, and on 3+ year deals to play till they’re 38, even 39-40. This is new.
I’m sorry, but Lillard, KD, Paul George, Kahwi, Holliday, Harden, etc do NOT have 3 good years left. These stories won’t have happy endings. Milwaukee has already paid the price with Dame. Portland just got the bad news about 35 year old Jrue Holliday (Dame’s 35 yr old running mate). Philly wishes they hadn’t made the mistake with Paul George.
Don’t give long-term contracts to old guys and then complain about bad luck.
I was surprised too by this signing. I guess he didn’t want to title chase and went for the money and a chance to go back home. Props to him for doing what is best for him, but I think that he should have tried to sign with a contender on a 2yr deal to try to get a ring 🤷🏽♂️
He hasnt worked hard in a long time. It has been few yrs since he lost his killer instinct and all he cares about is $$. He needs to give $42m back to Bucks.
I think his defense is so incredibly bad that he actually can’t be an effective player and he’s lucky to get this.
How much money can Bucks get back from this deal?
None
I’m guessing it could work the same as with other leagues where what another team pays is offset, but, if that’s the case, why would any team pay more than the minimum? In that case, it might be completely separate.
There is no offset. He gets paid in full by both Milwaukee and Portland. So this money is in addition to the money the bucks owe him. It is good to be a star in the NBA.
They get zero back. The waived him.
That’s an absurd overpay for a guy who is likely cooked in this league.
Questions for all:
1. Why do you think Dame will play at all this year?
2. Why do you think, post-injury, Dame will look anything even remotely like an effective rotation piece? Or even a starter? Why do you think an achilles injury is something anyone can bounce back from, let alone a 36 year old Dame? Klay has been hot garbage since he had his injury. A guy on the wrong side of 30 has next to no chance of being a factor. I think Dame will play like 20 games a year all 3 years of this deal, if they don’t buy him out too.
3. Who is more cooked: Dame or PG13 or is it a tie?
Dame is really grifting here. He knows he is cooked in the NBA and grabbed one more bag that he will not earn even 1% of. Gross.
First team all don’t care about winning: Dame, Beal, Lavine, Markkanen, Gobert
And if signed with Boston, NY, LA you’d all call him a “ring chaser” and on and on.
Stop believing everyone thinks the same Mahmoud. I would not have labeled him a ring chaser at all.
No chance for a ring in LA or Boston
Gobert just went to the conference finals in consecutive years.
Gobert Has Not expanded his game whatsoever.
I’d have to disagree with Gobert on this list. And maybe Markkanen too depending on what he does on his next contract.
If your list is only for active players, Booker should be on this list based on his recent contract signing. DeRozan. Maybe Harden based off his play lol
I understand the first year is for rehab – but giving him two years after that? He’s going to be borderline unplayable by the third, at 37/38 of age. He was already a turnstile defensively, and that was before an achilles tear.
Nostalgia contracts aren’t building blocks for championships.
I agree with this. WTF is Portland doing? Do you ever plan on contending? I get wanting to bring him back 100%. They’re just paying them about $12 million a year too much.
And the third year a player option… And the no trade clause… It’s like they know they’re gonna suck for three years. Dont get me wrong, his past was hall of Fame, but his future is another thing
No contender was going to sign him anyway.
He wasn’t a winner even in his prime and certainly isn’t going to be one as a gimp.
Well Tatum has been heavily recruiting him but sure…
The guy who is also out for the season? lol
He chose money over winning. It was his choice
He must have a phenomenal agent or Portland’s front office is dumb as hell. Or both I guess. If you want to build a championship contender, always remember: NOSTALGIA IS NOT YOUR FRIEND
OK, three years $42 million. Well, that changes things quite a bit.
That’s 100% something he should do.
Better than a minimum anywhere else, ring chasing or not.
Good for him, right choice, that’s a lot of money.
Agree, total no brainer decision for dame. He’s making approx $140million the next 2 yrs. Wow!
I thought this was clickbait because I never got any notifications and people were saying it was photoshop
How is Bradley Beal getting bought out more important than Damian lillard returning to the blazers
good for them, both sides.
Oh my God. He came back. He actually came back. Clint Capela’s on the Rockets again, and now this? Oh boy, is this getting exciting.
Luka coming back to the Mavs, bet on it.
If only that were to be true. Considering Nico traded him away for who knows why, I’m not willing to bet on him coming back
Stop hating on him people. He did it for his family. He wants to be close to them. Good for him.
What familiy? He divorced his wife…
Still has kids. He also has strong ties to teh portland area with side businesses and a charity in Portland.
He should have just retired.
players have egos so its hard for them to admit they can’t do it anymore.
Getting another 14 million this year and next next year plus his full salary from Milwaukee this is straight gangster. Family rules over chasing rings for him. Him in the building as another mentor for Scoot and Shay is absolutely priceless.
By the time Lillard plays another game, POR might be a playoff team. Depends on the development of the young C’s and Sharpe, and Holiday being healthy.
POR can justify any froth in the economics here simply based on the prospective marketing of the team for sale. The presence of Lillard won’t increase the value of the team, but the return of a popular local legend can’t hurt attendance or the sense the team’s well being in its current city.
Love seeing this. It’s where his heart is, it’s where he’s always belonged.
A nice thing happened. To find very much fault with something like that …
This doesn’t shock me, just a bit confused. lol
I called this. Still shocked it’s more than 2 years but now he will retire a Blazer
This is actually a pretty smart move by the Blazers as the Paul Allen estate puts the team for sale. Signing Lillard adds a bit of marquee value to an otherwise very young roster. It’s both a bit of a gamble for Joe Cronin as well as ensuring that one of the franchise’s best players in its history remains a part of the legacy.
Good for him
Dame is 35 yrs old, just turned 35 this month. He is rehabbing this year. Rehabbing at home. He is pulling a Sinatra here. He can play the second, third year of his contract. And take it from there. He will be 38 then living at home.
Or maybe his departure wasn’t as contentious as the media made it out to be.