The Portland Trail Blazers inked Jerami Grant to a massive five-year, $160 million contract in the summer of 2023. Just one day later, superstar Damian Lillard requested a trade. It's hard to fault Lillard for that decision, as not only did Portland fail to surround him with the necessary pieces to become a contender, but also drafted his successor in Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick.
After spending two seasons in Milwaukee, Lillard returns home to a Blazers roster that is much better equipped for an eventual postseason run with the way they are constructed. That can largely be attributed to the pieces they acquired from the Lillard trade, such as building blocks Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija, who were acquired either directly or through subsequent moves.