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Damian Lillard is set to make his return to the Portland Trail Blazers as the new season approaches.
As reported by Shams Charania from ESPN, Lillard and the Blazers are in the final stages of agreeing to a three-year contract worth $42 million, marking his return home after being released by the Milwaukee Bucks in June.
This deal will feature a player option for the 2027-28 season and includes a no-trade clause, suggesting that the 35-year-old Lillard is likely to conclude his NBA career where it all began.
The Oregonian was the first to indicate that Lillard is “strongly considering” rejoining the Blazers, aiming to return to the team after his trade to the Bucks in 2023. Lillard spent the initial eleven years of his professional career in Portland, establishing himself as one of the premier guards in the league.
A seven-time All-Star during his tenure with the Blazers, Lillard is expected to be sidelined for a significant portion of the 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles tendon he sustained in Game 4 of the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers in April. He had previously overcome a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf that had kept him out for three weeks.
During the 2024-25 season, Lillard recorded averages of 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over the course of 58 games.
