Damian Lillard is returning to the Portland Trail Blazers, with both parties finalising a three-year, $42 million contract, Afrosport reports.
Lillard became a free agent after he was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month, with the team stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract to create space for the addition of free agent center Myles Turner.
The 35-year-old, entering his 14th NBA season, returns to Portland, with the deal reported to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause.
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
He is currently recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff exit to the Indiana Pacers and is expected to sit out the entire 2025-26 season.
The nine-time All-Star spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers before he was traded to Milwaukee for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and picks in 2023. Portland, however, sent Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and picks—one of them turning into forward Deni Avdija.
Both Lillard and Holiday, who was reacquired in a deal with the Celtics this offseason, have found their way back to the Blazers. The team still has Avdija and Camara as well as other valuable assets ahead of the 2026-27 season, when Lillard is expected to return.
Portland finished 12th in the West last season with a 36-46 record. But they will be looking to build on an encouraging 22-18 record they achieved in their last 40 games.
Lillard made seven All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams during his first stint with the Trail Blazers, whom he led to the playoffs eight times. He is the franchise leader in points (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387) and sits second in assists (5,151).
He averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 58 games last season at Milwaukee, shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.6% from the 3-point line.
