PORTLAND – Damian Lillard’s return to Portland surprised few who had followed the quiet groundwork laid over the past year. After the Milwaukee Bucks waived and stretched the final two years and $113 million on his deal in July, Lillard reunited with the franchise that drafted him. Damian Lillard’s return wasn’t just a move—it was a full-circle moment, driven by deep roots and mutual respect. His Milwaukee stint ended painfully, both emotionally and physically, after he tore his Achilles. But Portland offered more than just rehab and redemption—it offered closure.
Seeds for Damian Lillard’s Trail Blazers Return Were Planted Years Ago
Conversations Started Early
Jan 28, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups embraces Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (0, right) after a game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Damian Lillard’s return began long before the injury or the waiver. According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, “Goodwin and Cronin had a conversation in January, where they identified the gaps in their communication and said that if there were any hard feelings, they had long since dissipated.”
Those weren’t just healing words—they were action steps. Joe Cronin, the Trail Blazers’ GM, and Aaron Goodwin, Lillard’s agent, took the first real steps toward reconciliation in early 2024.
Jamal writes, “But just a few months after the trade, steps toward a potential reunion started to take shape.” That January meeting built trust. It didn’t happen overnight, but it made a return feel inevitable. Obviously, both parties could never have guessed that they would reunite so soon or under these circumstances.
Portland Embraced Him Again
When Lillard visited Portland in the 2023-24 season, the crowd roared. He received a standing ovation. The franchise played tribute videos. That response didn’t go unnoticed. It mattered. It stuck with him. It watered the seeds already planted by those earlier conversations.
So when Milwaukee released him, Portland moved quickly. Cronin met Lillard in his Portland home surrounded by his family to make the case for a reunion. Damian Lillard’s return wasn’t about a fresh start—it was about unfinished business.
Lillard is home again. And this time, it feels different. Because this time, both sides chose each other again—with open eyes and healed hearts.
Credit:© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images