The Trail Blazers and their fans are ecstatic with Damian Lillard‘s return and Jrue Holiday‘s arrival. It has been an eventful offseason, but the Blazers’ Holiday trade helps Portland’s rebuild to continue progressing.

Damian Lillard Approves Of The Blazers’ Jrue Holiday Trade

The 2025-26 season will be an exciting campaign for the Portland Trail Blazers. After a promising second half to the 2024-25 season, the Blazers can compete for a spot in the 2026 playoffs. It will be challenging due to them playing in the Western Conference, but it is possible.

Portland is still running with a core of young players, mainly Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Expectations are high for both players, considering they are the cornerstones of Portland’s rebuild. However, they still need to develop, and Lillard’s return alongside Holiday’s arrival will help them.

For Lillard, he will not be playing in the 2025-26 season. However, he knows Holiday will be a significant boost for the Blazers. The combination of these veterans could be the push the young players need.

Lillard’s Return Could Fuel A Strong 2026-27 Season

With Holiday having two seasons on his contract and a player option for a third, he can wait for Lillard. The Blazers’ most iconic point guard will want to play with Holiday and Henderson in the 2026-27 season. He wants to show out for his city, and he expects the team to be at a good level.

They will regularly work together in the 2025-26 season, but that 2026-27 campaign will be huge for these guards. Lillard will want to have a prominent role for the Blazers, as he knows he still has the talent. Depending on Henderson’s growth, Lillard will still play a massive role for the team when he returns.

Holiday will be key to that, as he provides the defensive coverage Billups wants and Lillard needs. They can work well playing in the same backcourt, as Holiday has the size to play the shooting guard. At the same time, they can rotate between each other and Henderson.

Blazers defense is going to be nails next season https://t.co/GPKXuDQGjF

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) June 24, 2025

“That’s one of the things I’m extremely excited about. I’ll bring experience and leadership, a vet who’s done it on the floor. I’ve done it for a long time,” Lillard said in media availability on July 23. “To play alongside a guard that’s similar, has won two championships, and has a lot of experience. He’s been an All-Star in the NBA; he’s been around for a long time. His personality, who he is, will be great for the team.”

Lillard Knows The Value Of The Blazers’ Holiday Trade

Lillard has always wanted to play with Holiday. They are familiar with each other, as Holiday led the New Orleans Pelicans to sweep Portland in 2018. In that series, Holiday locked up Lillard, holding him to 18.5 points per game on 35.2% from the field.

Apart from their matchups through the years, Lillard understood that Holiday is a dependable person. Throughout his career, Holiday has been the model example of an NBA player. A healthy personality and sense of reliability are important for a team, especially for the leaders.

The Lillard and Holiday connection is also strong due to the 2023 trade. Lillard went to Milwaukee, while Holiday passed through Portland before joining the Boston Celtics. During the two years Lillard played in Milwaukee, he was renting out Holiday’s house, so they regularly interacted.

With Holiday on the Blazers’ roster, he will bring leadership and defensive prowess to the team. Chauncey Billups has a strong vision with his defense-focused system. Holiday is a veteran playmaker and mentor to Henderson, which can help alleviate people’s concerns for Portland’s rebuild.

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