Rumors

Damian Lillard had offers from "dozens" of teams around the league before signing a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. "Boston, Minnesota, dozens of other teams had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks," said Charania.

RealGM

While many NBA fans were stunned by the reunion, ESPN’s Shams Charania offered insight into the motivation behind Lillard’s decision — and it had little to do with money or title hopes. “Being home in Portland, being back with his three kids, was by far the biggest, most important factor in Damian Lillard returning to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers,” Charania said on SportsCenter. “He was going to spend the year rehabbing his Achilles tear in the Portland area anyway. So, returning to the Blazers franchise, even though he requested a trade just two years ago, was something he deeply cared about.”

Clutch Points

Lillard’s locker will be next to third-year guard Scoot Henderson, whose selection as the third pick in the 2023 draft prompted Lillard to request a trade. At the time, Lillard wanted the Blazers to use the pick to lure in more NBA-ready talent who could help satisfy his thirst for a title. Now, Lillard will compete against and mentor Henderson, along with veteran Jrue Holiday, whom Portland acquired in an offseason trade.

New York Times

(@BenGolliver) Blazers rookie center Yang Hansen taps his wrist to show he’s ready for “Dame Time” with Damian Lillard

reddit

Darren Wolfson: Hard to top a homecoming (#NBA, not where born and raised), but told that there was definite mutual interest between Dame and the Wolves. #WolvesBack #Twolves

Twitter

Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Lillard's deal includes a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. Lillard joins the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James as the only NBA players with a true no-trade clause in their contracts.

ESPN

Lillard and the Trail Blazers both deeply cared about a reunion in recent weeks -- with multiple meetings among the Portland franchise icon, general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups to bond together and move forward united on a new deal, sources said.

ESPN

Chris Haynes: Portland GM Joe Cronin met at the star’s house weeks ago and the two made amends and focused their attention on getting a deal done to give Lillard the opportunity to retire as a Trail Blazer.

x.com

Shams Charania: Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.

x.com

Shams Charania: Damian 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. He also had multiple mid-level exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders.

x.com

Shams Charania: Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers both deeply cared about the comeback in recent weeks – with multiple meetings among the Portland franchise icon, general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups to bond together and move forward united on a new deal.

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Shams Charania: Damian Lillard now will have a 2025-26 set salary of $70M between his Portland and Milwaukee deals, and a salary of $141M over the next two years ahead of an opt-out in 2027. Blazers officials and Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports Management are finalizing terms this week.

x.com

Chris Haynes: BREAKING: Free agent star Damian Lillard is close to reaching an agreement to return to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year deal with a player option, league sources tell me.

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Shams Charania: BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old.

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