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.
Lillard now will have a 2025-26 set salary of $70M between his Portland and Milwaukee deals, and a salary of $141M over the next two years ahead of an opt-out in 2027. Blazers officials and Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports Management are finalizing terms this week.
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 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. He also had multiple mid-level exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders.
https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/fcbefd9bbb1c4
41 comments
Idc what anybody say, I love this for him. No place like home (I know he’s from Oakland).
Life, uh, finds a way
This shit made me happy
NO BOSTON. I LOVE YOU DAME
He’s going home
EVERYONE GET IN HERE
The Damian lillard trade might be the weirdest arc ever
*everybody liked that*
Genuinely so happy for Dame.
**OH MY GOD, ZACH LOWE JUST PUT SHAMS ON A POSTER**
LMAO WHAT
Grass ain’t always greener
Lol that’s awesome
#**PLAY IM COMING HOME**
I am super happy about this
Portland, how we feeling?
No-trade clause…
Both Dame and Jrue ending up back in Portland is pretty funny lmao. Pretty cool stuff from Dame.
Dame Time back
Another reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side
The prodigal son returns (but why)
scriptwriters cooking
Trade Dame for a bunch of Bucks picks then get Dame back 2 years later lmao
At least Dame got that NBA Cup though
Both major pieces of the Jrue Holiday/Dame trade are now back in Portland
Dame Dolla and the Hansen Yang Yuan
Hell yeah so happy for Blazers fans rn
This makes zero sense for everyone but I FUCKING LOVE IT. WELCOME HOME DAME!
I’m not gonna lie, shot out to Dame. This made me smile real big. Go get your family and your franchise back.
Dame really hit a mid-life crisis, tore his Achilles, and said lemme go home and fix things with the kids.
Just fell to my knees in happiness at the Hollywood Fred Meyer
Screw it. Bring back Brandon Roy and Greg Oden too.
Kind of funny how Jrue and dame ended up on the same team
Can’t wait to move to Portland
dame getting 141ms in the next two seasons
The “Agent of the Year” award race is now over. Dame’s wins.
So tearing his Achilles actually made him more money in the long run huh?
When he suits up again and gets announced in the starting line up… it’s gonna be LOUD. Imagine the first Young Handsome to Dame assist…
Got back with the ex he probably thinks he should’ve never broken up with.
Relatable.
the trail blazers scammed the bucks and suns. and got jrue holiday back as well.
i guess the boston celtics got a ring out of it so good for them.
Someone get the photoshops ready.
He saw Yang Hansen highlights and was like “damn I needa play with him”