9-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Path Blazers, sources informed ESPN on Thursday.
Lillard’s deal features a participant choice in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause.
Lillard joins the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James as the one NBA gamers with a real no-trade clause of their contracts. Bradley Beal had one earlier than coming to a buyout settlement with the Phoenix Suns earlier this week.
Lillard and the Path Blazers each deeply cared a few reunion in current weeks — with a number of conferences among the many Portland franchise icon, basic supervisor Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups to bond collectively and transfer ahead united on a brand new deal, sources stated.
The Milwaukee Bucks waived Lillard, 35, earlier this month and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract to signal free agent middle Myles Turner.
Lillard now can have a 2025-26 set wage of $70 million between his Portland and Milwaukee offers, and a wage of $141 million over the following two years forward of an opt-out in 2027. Blazers officers and Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports activities Administration are finalizing phrases this week.
Lillard tore his left Achilles in late April in Recreation 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff collection with the Indiana Pacers and underwent surgical procedure in early Might.
Lillard will use the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate his harm, however a return to the franchise and Portland, the place his household and kids reside had been of the last word significance, per sources. He additionally had a number of midlevel exception and minimal gives from NBA contenders, per sources.
Portland traded Lillard to the Bucks for Jrue Vacation, Toumani Camara, and belongings in 2023 after which despatched Vacation to the Boston Celtics for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and belongings (one led to Deni Avdija).
Now, the Blazers have each Lillard and Vacation (reacquired in a commerce with the Celtics this offseason), plus Avdija, Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks choose swaps.
The Blazers will look to construct on a 22-18 end to final season, rating within the prime 5 within the NBA in protection and third in transition protection throughout that span, in line with ESPN Analysis.
Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Path Blazers, making seven All-Star appearances and 7 All-NBA groups. He led Portland to the playoffs eight occasions, together with a Western Convention finals look in 2018-19. He ranks first in staff historical past in factors (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387), and second in assists (5,151).
Together with the common season and playoffs, Lillard has seven 55-point video games with the Path Blazers. No different participant within the franchise’s historical past has any such video games.