Damian Lillard close to a deal with the Trail Blazers
The stellar basketball player, Damian Lillard, who has been selected nine times for the NBA All-Star, is in the final stages of negotiating a three-year, $42 million contract, which would mark his return to the Portland Trail Blazers. This information was revealed by sources close to the player.
Lillard’s agreement is expected to include a player option for the 2027-28 season, as well as a clause preventing him from being traded to another team.
During the last few weeks, both Lillard and the Trail Blazers have shown a deep interest in making this return a reality. Multiple meetings have been held between the franchise legend, general manager Joe Cronin, and head coach Chauncey Billups, with the aim of strengthening ties and moving forward together towards this new agreement, according to sources.
The Milwaukee Bucks decided to do without the services of Lillard, 35 years old, at the beginning of this month. In addition, they stretched the remaining 113 million dollars of his contract to be able to sign the free agent pivot Myles Turner.
Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at the end of April, during the fourth game of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, and underwent surgery in early May.
Lillard will use the 2025-26 season to recover from his injury, but returning to the franchise and to Portland, where his family and children reside, was of utmost importance to him, according to sources. He also received several offers from NBA contending teams, which included the mid-level exception and minimum offers.
Lillard played 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, was selected seven times for the All-Star and was part of seven All-NBA teams. He led Portland to the playoffs on eight occasions, including an appearance in the Western Conference finals in the 2018-19 season. Currently, he holds the first place in team history in points and three-pointers, and the second in assists.
