Damian Lillard Rejoins Trail Blazers on 3-Year, $42 Million Deal with No-Trade Clause
Injured All-Star guard returns to Portland as franchise rebuilds around familiar faces
Lillard Agrees to New Contract with Portland
Damian Lillard is headed back to Portland.
The nine-time NBA All-Star has agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources who spoke with ESPN. The deal includes a rare no-trade clause and a player option for the 2027–28 season, securing Lillard’s return to the franchise where he became a superstar.
With the new agreement, Lillard becomes just the second active NBA player with a true no-trade clause—joining LeBron James. Bradley Beal previously held one before finalizing a buyout with the Phoenix Suns earlier this week.
Franchise and Star Reunite After Major Trade
Lillard, 35, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 in a deal that sent Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara to Portland. After one season and a devastating Achilles injury, the Bucks waived Lillard earlier this month, stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract to make room for free-agent signing Myles Turner.
In recent weeks, Trail Blazers management, including GM Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups, met with Lillard to explore a possible reunion. According to sources, both sides prioritized reuniting in Portland, where Lillard’s family and children live.
Despite receiving multiple offers from playoff contenders, including midlevel and veteran minimum contracts, Lillard chose to return to the team that drafted him in 2012.
Injury and Rehab Timeline
Lillard tore his left Achilles in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers in April and underwent surgery in May. He is expected to sit out the 2025–26 season to recover, though his contract with Portland continues through at least 2027 with an opt-out option.
The financial structure of his deal reflects prior obligations to Milwaukee, resulting in a combined salary of $70 million in 2025–26 and $141 million over the next two seasons.
Trail Blazers Roster Taking Shape
Portland’s front office has been active in reshaping the roster since Lillard’s initial departure. Following trades involving Jrue Holiday and others, the Blazers have now reacquired both Lillard and Holiday this offseason.
The team’s core now includes:
- Damian Lillard
- Jrue Holiday
- Robert Williams III
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Deni Avdija
- Toumani Camara
- A 2029 first-round pick
- Two Bucks pick swaps
The Blazers ended last season on a strong 22–18 run and ranked in the NBA’s top five in overall defense and third in transition defense during that stretch, according to ESPN Research.
Lillard’s Legacy in Portland
Before his brief time in Milwaukee, Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, earning seven All-NBA honors and leading the franchise to eight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019.
He holds the Trail Blazers’ all-time record in points (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387), and ranks second in assists (5,151). Remarkably, he has scored 55 or more points in seven games with the franchise—more than any other player in team history.
Lillard’s return signals more than a comeback from injury; it marks a homecoming for one of Portland’s most beloved athletes as both he and the franchise look to write their next chapter together.
Source: ESPN – Damian Lillard reaches deal to return to Trail Blazers
