Damian Lillard Returns to Trail Blazers on Three-Year, $42M Deal

Posted : 18 July 2025

Damian Lillard is officially returning to Portland. The nine-time NBA All-Star has agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the Trail Blazers, according to sources familiar with the agreement. The contract includes a player option for the 2027–28 season and features a rare no-trade clause, making Lillard one of only two active players in the NBA with such a clause—alongside LeBron James. Bradley Beal previously held a no-trade clause but relinquished it in a recent buyout with the Phoenix Suns.

The reunion between Lillard and Portland came after weeks of ongoing discussions. Sources say the Blazers’ front office, including general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups, met with Lillard multiple times in an effort to rebuild trust and chart a unified path forward. Both sides were reportedly eager to mend ties and pursue a fresh start.

Lillard, 35, was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month, a move that allowed the franchise to stretch out the $113 million remaining on his contract and create space to sign free agent center Myles Turner. Following his release, Lillard attracted interest from several NBA contenders offering mid-level and minimum-salary deals. However, returning to Portland, where his family is based, was a top priority, especially as he prepares to recover from a torn left Achilles tendon suffered during the Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers in April.

With this new deal, Lillard is set to earn approximately $70 million during the 2025–26 season between the remaining money from Milwaukee and his new salary in Portland. Over the next two years, his total compensation will reach $141 million before he has the option to opt out in 2027. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, helped finalize the contract with Blazers executives this week.

The trade that initially sent Lillard to Milwaukee in 2023 included Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and other assets. The Blazers later flipped Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and future picks, including one that led to Deni Avdija. Interestingly, Portland has now reacquired Holiday in a recent trade with the Celtics, reuniting him with Lillard and bolstering their backcourt.

Looking ahead, Portland aims to build on its promising finish to last season, in which the team went 22–18 and ranked among the top five in overall defense and third in transition defense, according to ESPN research.

Lillard's legacy in Portland is already cemented. He played 11 seasons for the franchise, earning seven All-Star nods and seven All-NBA selections. He guided the team to eight playoff appearances, including a memorable run to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He remains the franchise leader in points (19,376) and 3-pointers made (2,387), and ranks second in assists (5,151). Remarkably, Lillard also holds the record for the most 55-point games in Trail Blazers history—with seven—while no other player in franchise history has accomplished that feat even once.

With Lillard back in the fold and a stronger supporting cast, the Trail Blazers are poised for a new chapter—one that combines experience, renewed energy, and the enduring loyalty of a player who remains the face of the franchise.

Damian Lillard Returns to Trail Blazers on Three-Year, $42M Deal

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