After 11 seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers (2012-2023), 9x All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a deal to return to his former team in the aftermath of the the Milwaukee Bucks waiving him earlier this month.
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BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old. pic.twitter.com/mm1uUtMgO6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2025
Considering the Bucks still owe Lillard the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five seasons, he is set to earn $70 million (2025-26 set salary Portland/Milwaukee deals) and a salary of $141 million over the next two years ahead of an opt-out in 2027 (per ESPN's Shams Charania).
Notably, in September 2023, Lillard was traded to the Bucks in a three-team deal that included Jrue Holiday initially heading to Portland, prior to being sent to the Boston Celtics. And now two years later, both Holiday (traded for Anfernee Simons) and Lillard are both in the Blazers backcourt.
Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, assets in 2023 β then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, assets (one led to Deni Avdija).
Now, Blazers have Lillard and Holiday, plus Avdija, Williams, Camara, a 2029 first, two MIL swaps.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2025
So the Blazers traded Lillard for Jrue Holiday and 2 years later they have both pic.twitter.com/MQsKkCAD8o
— Knicks Union π½ (@knicks_union) July 17, 2025
The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer will spend the next season rehabbing his left Achilles tendon injury, yet will certainly be the leader of the squad he took to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 during the franchise's iconic playoff run.
To point out, during Lillard's last stint in Portland (2022-23), the deep-range sharpshooter averaged a career-high 32.2 points (46.3% FG; 37.1% 3-PT), 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game.
That is to say, Portland fans are more than happy to welcome their superstar back into town.
Damian Lillard is going HOME to Portland π₯Ή pic.twitter.com/SgR6r20mQx
— πΊππππππ·πππππππΎπ (@TheSportsBrawls) July 17, 2025
Related: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo 'Not Happy' With Team Waiving Co-Star Damian Lillard
