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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Liam McKeone

NBA World Reacts to Damian Lillard's Out-of-Nowhere Decision to Return to Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard NBA Blazers NBA World Trail Blazers Portland (Organization) the Trail Blazers Dame (Organization)
Damian Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career in Portland. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Damian Lillard is returning to Portland.

On Thursday the sudden news broke that Lillard, currently a free agent as he recovers from an Achilles tear during the Milwaukee Bucks' postseason run, would be signing with the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal worth $42 million, as reported by Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix. The final year of the contract includes a player option and a no-trade clause.

It's a totally out-of-nowhere development on numerous levels. Nobody expected Lillard to sign for much more than the veteran minimum since he's unlikely to see the floor until the 2026–27 season; the Blazers offered him $14 million a year. In addition, the widely-held belief was that Lillard would look for his best opportunity to win a championship after failing to do so in Portland and Milwaukee. The Blazers, coming off another lottery finish, are long shots in that department. Above all it was surprising to see Lillard make a decision so quickly given there's almost no chance he can play next season.

And yet, despite all that context, a homecoming is happening. Lillard returns to the Trail Blazers, where he starred for 11 seasons and earned the Dame Time moniker with clutch heroics year after year in Portland before getting traded to the Bucks in 2023. The NBA world was left reeling by the shocking turn of events and reacted accordingly.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NBA World Reacts to Damian Lillard's Out-of-Nowhere Decision to Return to Trail Blazers.

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