Damian Lillard, the nine-time NBA All-Star and former Weber State standout, is preparing to return to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year contract after recovering from Achilles tendon surgery. This development comes as Lillard continues to rehab an injury sustained during the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run in April 2025.
Details provided by reliable sources and NBA insider Shams Charania confirm the agreement includes a three-year, $42 million deal, featuring a player option for the 2027-28 season along with a no-trade clause. The 35-year-old guard’s decision to return to Portland marks a significant homecoming to the team where he began his NBA career.
Contract Details and Rehabilitation Timeline
Despite the new contract, Lillard is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered during Milwaukee’s first-round playoff exit. After the injury, Lillard underwent surgery and now faces a substantial rehab period before he can resume playing.
Charania reported that Lillard’s financial arrangements for the 2025-26 season include a combined salary of $70 million from his former Milwaukee contract and his new deal with Portland. Over the subsequent two years, the guard is projected to earn around $141 million, with an opt-out opportunity available in 2027.
Past Performance and Career Context
Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 following a major three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns, after spending the first eleven seasons of his career in Portland. While he averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists over two seasons in Milwaukee, he was unable to propel the Bucks to a championship alongside superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Before his time with the Bucks, Lillard was known as the cornerstone of the Trail Blazers franchise, earning seven All-Star selections and seven All-NBA team honors. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and in 2022, was recognized among the 75 greatest players in league history.
Reasons Behind Choosing Portland Over Other Teams
Lillard’s choice to return to Portland reportedly outweighed other offers from NBA contenders, which included multiple mid-level exception and minimum contract proposals. The guard’s priority was to be near his family and children, who reside in Portland, as he focuses on his recovery and career relaunch.
Lillard will use the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate a torn Achilles tendon, but a return to the franchise and Portland where his family and kids reside were of the ultimate importance, —Shams Charania, NBA Insider
He also had multiple mid-level exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders. —Shams Charania, NBA Insider
Impact and Expectations Moving Forward
The Trail Blazers hope Lillard’s return will restore leadership and veteran presence to their roster, even as he undergoes a lengthy rehabilitation. His homecoming signals the team’s commitment to reinvigorate their chances in the Western Conference while accommodating Lillard’s recovery and potential future options.
The contract’s player option in 2027 provides flexibility for both the team and Lillard, allowing reassessment based on his performance and health once the injury gap closes.
As one of the NBA’s most accomplished players of his generation, Lillard’s return to Portland represents a compelling narrative of loyalty and resilience in the face of adversity, setting the stage for his next chapter in the league.