Damian Lillard will rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers after agreeing to a three-year contract worth $42 million. The 35-year-old guard returns to the franchise that selected him sixth overall during the 2012 draft. Milwaukee waived Lillard earlier this month and will spread his remaining $113 million salary across five years. The veteran spent eleven seasons with Portland before the organization traded him to the Bucks in 2023. ESPN first reported the agreement between Lillard and his former team.
The nine-time All-Star may miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon during playoff action against Indiana. Lillard underwent surgery to repair the injury and faces a lengthy rehabilitation process. He appeared in just 58 games last season while averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per contest. The guard holds franchise records for career points with 19,376 and three-pointers with 2,387. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and received selection to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
The nine-time All-Star may miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon during playoff action against Indiana. Lillard underwent surgery to repair the injury and faces a lengthy rehabilitation process. He appeared in just 58 games last season while averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per contest. The guard holds franchise records for career points with 19,376 and three-pointers with 2,387. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and received selection to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
