Damian Lillard will return to the Pacific Northwest as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers after two seasons in Milwaukee.
Damian Lillard‘s trail has blazed its way back to a familiar place.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN, Lillard is set to sign a three-year, $42 million deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, moving back to the Pacific Northwest after two years with the Milwaukee Bucks. The deal carries a no-trade clause and a player option for the 2027-28 season, Charania noted.
The injured Lillard, who turned 35 on Tuesday, thus makes his way back to Portland, where he spent the first 11 seasons of an accomplished career. Originally arriving as the sixth pick of the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State, Lillard ranks at or near the top of almost every major statistical category in the Blazer record books, including the Pacific Northwest scoring record ahead of Clyde Drexler.
In an era of frequent wheeling and dealing, Lillard earned high praise for sticking with the Blazers through several rebuilds before he was finally dealt to Milwaukee in 2023. Ironically enough, Charania noted, the Blazers also carry Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, and Robert Williams III on their roster. All three were involved in the multi-pronged deal that ended Lillard’s original tenure.
Charania noted that several teams sought to acquire Lillard on a mid-level exception or veteran’s minimum deal, but that Portland management went all-in on a reunion.
“Lillard will use the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate a torn Achilles tendon, but a return to the franchise and Portland where his family and kids reside were of the ultimate importance,” Charania said in X posts. “Lillard and the Trail Blazers both deeply cared about the comeback in recent weeks, with multiple meetings among the Portland franchise icon, general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups to bond together and move forward united on a new deal.”
Lillard’s Milwaukee career ended with a torn Achilles late in this past season and he was waived by the Bucks when they landed longtime division rival Myles Turner on a large deal. Over the last two seasons, Lillard averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists while working next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was reportedly displeased about the guard’s ousting.
Though the Blazers have not reached the playoffs since Lillard originally left, they carry a hopeful forecast thanks to the efforts of young talents like Camara, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons. It was enough for management to re-up with Billups, the Hall-of-Fame point guard set to enter his fifth year at the Pacific Northwestern helm.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
