Damian Lillard is set for a stunning reunion with the Portland Trail Blazers after being cut by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard, 35, tore his Achilles in the first round of the playoffs and Milwaukee later opted to waive and stretch the remaining $103 million left on his deal to refashion the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
And the All-Star guard will now be returning to the franchise which drafted him, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported he’ll be signing a three-year, $42million deal with the team.
Lillard is set to make $141million over the next two seasons between his new Blazers deal and the money left over from his Bucks contract.
The Bucks elected to stretch the remaining money on Lillard’s contract over five seasons in terms of their salary cap, as they poached Myles Turner from the Pacers on a four-year, $108million deal.
Lillard is expected to receive a no-trade clause in his new deal and a player option for the 2027-28 season. He will miss next season with his Achilles injury.
Damian Lillard has landed with a new team following his release from the Milwaukee Bucks
Lillard is returning to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he became a franchise icon in 11 seasons
While Lillard divorced his wife Kay’la Hanson last year, the couple share three children who still live in Portland with their mother.
And moving back closer to his family was of the ‘ultimate importance,’ Charania reported.
Lillard is a fan favorite and franchise icon in Portland, where he was drafted in 2012 with the sixth overall pick.
He spent the first 11 years of his career there – earning seven All-Star selections, becoming the franchise’s leading scorer all-time and leading the team to the Western Conference Finals in the 2018-19 postseason.
The point guard is returning to team at a more transitional time, as they finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 36-46 record last year.
The team also traded Anfernee Simons to Boston for Jrue Holiday, while there is also optimism around young talents like Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija.
Portland added Chinese big man Yang Hansen in the draft with the No. 16 overall pick, and the 20-year-old has impressed in the Summer League.
