Damian Lillard returns to Portland

After being waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks, star point guard Damian Lillard is reportedly heading back to the Portland Trail Blazers, per Shams Charania of ESPN. The deal is for three years and is worth $42m ($14m average annual value) and not only does it have a player option for the 2026–2027 season, but a full no-trade clause.

Shams continued to fill in more details about how this signing came together, reporting the following:

“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…