Damian Lillard RETURNS to the Portland Trail Blazers! The REAL reason will leave you Speechless!
Welcome to NBA Hoops, where legends are made, rivalries ignite and every buzzer beater writes history. Step into the heart of the game. This is more than basketball. This is NBA hoops. This is one of the more surprising stories, at least to me. Dame Lillard left Portland about 2 years ago to pursue a championship. Now he’s going back to a Portland team that’s not quite on that championship path just yet. So why did he decide to go back? Ryan being home in Portland, being back with his three kids was by far the biggest, most important factor in Damian Lillard deciding to return and resign with the Trailblazers. He was going to spend the year rehabbing his Achilles tear in the Portland area anyways. So, returning to the Blazers franchise, even though he requested a trade just two years ago, was something he deeply cared about. in Boston, Minnesota, dozens of other teams had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damen Lillard in the last several weeks, but I’m told uh Lillard as well as Joe Cronin, the Blazers GM, head coach Chanty Bilips, they all met at Damen Lillard’s home in recent weeks and figured out how they were going to bond and reunite and move forward on a deal. Three years, $42 million. He has a player option in the third year as well. And now him and LeBron, the only players in the NBA now with a full no trade clause. And next year, Ryan Dame Lillard will make $70 million between his Bucks and Blazers salaries. In the next two years, he’ll be at 140 million combined in salaries. Wow, that is huge. And you know what? I know a lot of times we say, “Hey, people should be championship or bust.” I can certainly understand the idea of wanting to return home to where your family is. So, what’s the timeline for Dame’s return? Ryan Dam Lillard is expected to use the entire 202526 season to rehab the Achilles tear and then return for the Portland Trailblazers, make his reunion and return in that arena in 2026 27 ahead of a player option that he’ll have the summer of 2027. So now David Lillard is going to be in Portland. He’ll be able to rehab there, spend time in the community there, be a young uh leader for a young roster. And Portland was 22 and 18 to end last season. They were a top five defensive team as well. And so this is a team that’s clearly rebuilding, retooling. And think just two years ago they traded Dame Lillard for Drew Holiday. Then they traded Drew Holiday away for more assets. Now they have Dame Lillard, Drew Holiday, and all these players and assets they’ve been able to build up and deepen this team. That is a great point. This is a team on the come up and now they got Dame Lillard in the fold. Shams, thanks so much with the latest on Dame. Appreciate it. Picture this. A franchise legend. A man who defined a city, betrayed by a trade, broken by a catastrophic injury, and cast aside by a team that promised him glory. Damen Lillard, the heart of Portland, is back in Rip City on a jaw-dropping three-year $42 million deal. But this isn’t just a contract. It’s a saga of loyalty, heartbreak, and redemption that’s got the NBA world buzzing. Why would a ninetime all-star still owed $113 million by the Milwaukee Bucks choose a rebuilding Portland team over championship contenders? Buckle up because this story is wilder than you think. This fairy tale reunion sounds like a Hollywood script. But is it a stroke of genius or a catastrophic misstep? Let’s dive into the chaos that led to this moment. Two years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks thought they’d struck gold, trading for Damen Lillard to pair with Giannis Anttompo, aa duo destined to dominate. But what unfolded was an absolute disaster. From day one, the cracks were showing. Terry Sts, Lillard’s trusted coach from Portland, was brought in to smooth the transition. But before the season even tipped off, St. quit after rookie head coach Adrien Griffin humiliated him in front of the entire team. Can you believe that? a veteran coach driven out by toxicity before game one and the oncourt chemistry non-existent in a humiliating blowout loss to Atlanta. Giannis set just four screens for Lillard for for a supposed elite pick and roll duo. That’s a slap in the face. The Bucks stumbled through two seasons, winning zero playoff series despite having two MVP caliber stars. Zero. And then the final gut punch. The 27th of April, 2025. Just 6 minutes into game four against the Pacers, Lillard collapses, clutching his left Achilles. A non-cont tear, his season, and maybe his career over. In an instant, Milwaukeee’s response. They waved him, stretching his $113 million contract over five years, paying him $22 .6 million annually through 2030 to not play for them. The biggest stretch provision in NBA history, Giannis was reportedly furious, but the Bucks chose Miles Turner over their cornerstones partner. This wasn’t just a trade gone wrong. It was a betrayal of epic proportions. But while Milwaukey’s dreams crumbled, Portland was quietly pulling off a heist that could rewrite NBA history. How did the Blazers turn this tragedy into a masterclass? Let’s break it down. While Damen Lillard was battling loneliness and injuries in Milwaukee, Portland’s GM Joe Cronin was playing 4D chess. Let’s unpack the absolute genius of this front office. In 2023, Portland traded Lillard to Milwaukee for Drew Holiday, Tummani Chimera, a 2029 firstround pick, and two pick swaps. Critics said it wasn’t enough for a superstar. Oh, how wrong they were. Portland flipped Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogden, and assets that later became Denny Abda. Fast forward to 2025. Portland not only got Lillard back on a team friendly $42 million deal, but they kept every single asset from the original trade. That’s Lillard Holiday of Diah Williams Camra, a 2029 first and two pick swaps. It’s like trading your old car, getting three new ones, and then having your original car dropped back in your driveway for free. This might be the greatest asset accumulation in NBA history. But here’s the catch. Why would a rebuilding team stacked with young talent like Scoot Henderson and Shaden Sharp bring back a 35-year-old recovering from a career-threatening injury? Is this a heartwarming homecoming or a roster nightmare waiting to happen? Portland’s front office deserves an Oscar for this heist, but the real drama lies on the court. Can Dame fit into this new look Blazers roster or is this reunion doomed to fail? Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Let’s be brutally honest. From a basketball perspective, Lillard’s return to Portland is a puzzle wrapped in a problem. The Blazers backcourt is a log jam of epic proportions. You’ve got Lillard, a ball dominant icon who needs 28 plus minutes to shine, but he’s out for the 202526 season rehabbing his Achilles. Then there’s Drew Holiday, a $324 million future Hall of Famer and elite defender who’s not getting any younger at 35, adds Scoot Henderson, the 2023 third overall pick and Portland’s future cornerstone who needs development minutes. And don’t forget Shaden Sharp, a 21-year-old breakout star averaging 18 five points with limitless potential. That’s four guards, all demanding the ball, all needing minutes. This isn’t a roster, a ticking time bomb. Portland’s new identity under Chanty Bilips is fast-paced, defensive, and youth-driven everything. Lillard’s ISO heavy, methodical style IS&T at 37 by 2027 when Portland’s championship window opens. Can a post Achilles Lillard even keep up? The numbers are grim. Only 73% of NBA players return from Achilles tears. And for guards over 30, it’s a steep decline. Kobe Bryant at the same age dropped from 27 3 to 17 chest points post injury. Chanty Bilips himself played just 41 games after his Achilles tear at 35. Is Portland setting itself up for a championship run or a nostalgic disaster. The roster fit might be a mess, but there’s a deeper reason Dame chose Portland over contenders. Let’s uncover the human side of this shocking decision. Forget the stats for a moment. Forget the championships. This is about a man, a father, and a legend coming home. Damen Lillard’s time in Milwaukee wasn’t just a basketball failure, was a personal tragedy. In a heartbreaking 2024 interview, he laid bare his loneliness. I’m a family guy. In Portland, my kids, my mom, my brother, my cousins were there after every game. In Milwaukee, I go home, watch boxing on YouTube, and pray for something new. His three kids stayed in Portland with their mother after a divorce, filing days after his 2023 trade. That’s not just a roster move. That’s a family torn apart 2,000 mi away from home. Lillard turned down offers from contenders like the Clippers, Celtics, and Warriors, where he could have chased a ring alongside stars like Jason Tatum or Steph Curry. Why? Because this isn’t about basketball. It’s about love, loyalty, and legacy. Lillard’s resume speaks for itself. 25 one points per game, seven all-star nods, seven all NBA teams, fourth alltime in three-pointers, and Portland’s all-time leading scorer with 19,376 points. He doesn’t need a ring to cement his greatness. By returning to Portland, he’s choosing his kids, his city, and the chance to retire as a blazer. This is bigger than Wincits about a hero coming home to heal. Dame’s homecoming is a triumph of the heart, but what does it mean for Portland’s future? Let’s wrap this up with the bigger picture. Damen Lillard’s return to Portland isn’t just a contract, it’s a cultural earthquake. Rip City is buzzing again. Attendance will skyrocket. Jersey sales will explode. A generation of fans will witness their hero’s final chapter, but let’s not sugarcoat it. The basketball fit is messy. Lillard at 37 by 2027 might be a sixth man mentoring Scoot Henderson and Shaden Sharp in the art of clutch play. Portland’s front office led by Joe Cronin might flip Drew Holiday’s $324 million contract for more assets completing their heist. The Blazers championship window lies in 2027, 2029 when their young core Henderson, Sharp, Chimera, ADA, and rookie Yang Hansen hits their prime. Lillard may not be the star of that show, but he’ll be the soul. In an NBA obsessed with rings, Dame’s choice screams something louder. Loyalty matters, family matters, legacy matters. He’s not chasing hardware, he’s chasing home. and for a city that’s worshiped him for over a decade that’s worth more than any championship. So, what’s the verdict? Is this a masterstroke or a misstep? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Smash that like button and subscribe for more NBA drama because in Rip City, the clock is ticking and Dame Time is back. If you felt the heat, heard the roar, and live the game. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join the NBA Hoops family. The next big moment is just one play away. [Music] [Applause]
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Damian Lillard RETURNS to the Portland Trail Blazers! The REAL reason will leave you Speechless!
