Damian Lillard is taking his talents back to the Portland Trail Blazers. The seven-time All-NBA selection is signing a three-year contract with the franchise he spent the first nine years of his career with, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause.
NBA insider Chris Haynes shared that Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin met with Lillard at the latter's house weeks ago, and the two made amends, bridging the gap needed to bring the nine-time All-Star home.
Portland traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that led to Jrue Holiday joining the Boston Celtics. It was an acquisition that was essential to the latter franchise capturing Banner 18 in the 2023-24 season.
The Celtics traded Holiday to the Trail Blazers this summer for Anfernee Simons and a future second-round draft pick. The two-time All-Star will now have the chance to team with Lillard when the latter returns to the floor.
Like Jayson Tatum, Lillard is rehabbing from a torn Achilles, an injury he suffered in the playoffs. Doing so together was a compelling reason for the latter to sign in Boston. However, Lillard's family is in Portland, which is a stronger incentive to return there. It's also much closer to his Oakland, California, roots.
Damian Lillard was a low-cost, high-upside option for the Celtics
While the Celtics would have had to carry two players, Tatum and Lillard, who may not have suited up in the 2025-26 campaign, both could've proven essential to Boston's return to title contention.
If he was open to coming off the bench, Lillard could've provided a potent scoring option while slotting into the team's second unit. It also gave the 35-year-old guard a chance to compete for his first NBA championship without assuming too much of a burden upon returning from his Achilles tear.
While the 13-year veteran would come with defensive concerns, the Celtics have the infrastructure to support him at that end of the floor. Offensively, his ability to shoot from well beyond the arc lifts the defense, making it that much harder to keep players like Tatum and Jaylen Brown from the basket. He's also an ideal floor-spacing catch-and-shoot threat, who can capitalize on downhill attacks from the likes of Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Instead, Boston will have to look elsewhere as it aims to acquire players who can help the organization follow its north star back to the NBA's mountaintop.