Damian Lillard is returning to the Portland Path Blazers, and choosing them over the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves got here down to at least one factor.
In one of the stunning strikes this offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard to create cap area to signal Myles Turner.
Lillard suffered a brutal Achilles damage within the playoffs, which meant he would miss the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. As such, the Bucks determined to maneuver on from the star.
Now a free agent, Damian Lillard may signal with any NBA staff that had the wage cap area to convey him in, regardless that he received’t play subsequent season.
The Boston Celtics and LA Lakers needed to signal Lillard. However in a stunning flip of occasions, Lillard selected to return to the Portland Path Blazers.
Given the character of his exit, Lillard’s return to Portland is kind of stunning. However it seems there was one issue that swayed him to return.
NBA insider Shams Charania spoke on ESPN about Damian Lillard’s return to the Portland Path Blazers. He revealed that Lillard selected Portland to be nearer to his household.
Dame has three kids, who’re based mostly in Portland. Because of this he spurned the curiosity from the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and different NBA groups to re-sign with the Path Blazers.
“Being house in Portland, being again along with his three youngsters, was by far the largest, most vital think about Damian Lillard returning to re-sign with the Portland Path Blazers.
“He was going to spend the yr rehabbing his Achilles tear within the Portland space anyway. So, returning to the Blazers franchise, regardless that he requested a commerce simply two years in the past, was one thing he deeply cared about.
“Boston, Minnesota, and dozens of different groups had minimal and mid-level exception gives out to Damian Lillard within the final a number of weeks.
“However I’m informed Lillard, in addition to Joe Cronin, the Blazers GM and head coach Chauncey Billups met in Damian Lillard’s house over the previous couple of weeks and discovered how they’re going to reunite, bond, and transfer ahead.”
Talking additional about Lillard, Shams revealed that the previous All-Star has his plan for subsequent season. He’ll spend the 2025-26 marketing campaign rehabbing.
Then, Lillard will make his return to the Path Blazers within the 2026-27 NBA season. Charania additionally identified how the Path Blazers managed to flip Damian Lillard and Jrue Vacation for a number of belongings after which get them again in simply two seasons.
“Damian Lillard is anticipated to make use of your complete 2025-26 season to rehab the Achilles tear, after which return for the Portland Path Blazers to make his reunion and return in that area in 2026-27 forward of a participant choice that he’ll have the summer season of 2027.
“So now, Damian Lillard goes to be in Portland. He’ll be capable of rehab there, spend time locally there, and be a frontrunner for a younger roster.
“Portland was 22-18 to finish final season, they had been a top-five defensive staff as properly, so this can be a staff that’s clearly rebuilding, retooling.
“And assume simply two years in the past, they traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Vacation, then they traded Jrue Vacation for extra belongings.
“Now, they’ve Damian Lillard, Jrue Vacation, and all these gamers and belongings that they’ve been capable of construct up and deepen this staff.”
The Path Blazers picked up an enormous get in Lillard. To have the ability to convey again the best participant of their franchise’s historical past is a big increase to morale.
The Path Blazers fan base will likely be comfortable to see Dame again. And as soon as Lillard recovers, he will get to play in entrance of these followers as soon as once more.
