The Portland Trail Blazers emerged out of left field as one of the top options for Damian Lillard, with the two sides soon agreeing to a three-year, $45 million deal. People assumed that Dame would go to a team like the Celtics, where he'd have a shot to win a title, but the pull to return to Portland was too much for him to ignore.
In a way, the move makes sense for Lillard, who never acclimated to Milwaukee. He's back in his NBA home, much closer to his real home in California. However, it's tough to envision Portland as a contender in the 2026-27 season, when Lillard returns.