When Damian Lillard’s acrimonious split from the Trail Blazers emerged in full public view, no fan embroiled in the drama could have foretold his quick return to Portland. Yet, that’s exactly what happened, despite the long-held belief that Portland isn’t a top-tier free-agent destination—and we have Myles Turner to thank for it.
The origin story of the transaction ultimately has roots in 2024’s offseason, where it was announced that perennial all-star Khris Middleton underwent arthroscopic surgery for both ankles. One of those surgeries was to address an injury sustained during the regular season, but the other one was a minor cleanup procedure.