After tearing his Achilles tendon during his Milwaukee Bucks’ five-game first round playoff series loss against the Indiana Pacers this spring, nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard faced an uncertain future.
Achilles injuries are some of the most devastating ailments to suffer in the NBA. It is rare for even the best players to return to their pre-injury selves, although 15-time All-Star now-Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant managed to pull off the feat for a few years.
Durant tore his Achilles during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, and didn’t return to the hardwood until the start of the 2020-21 season. It might behoove Lillard to sit out as long as possible.
In a shocking move, Milwaukee opted to stretch-and-waive the lingering $112.6 million it owes the 6-foot-2 former superstar in order to sign someone who could actually suit up next season, ex-Indiana center Myles Turner.
Lillard became a surprising late addition to the free agent pool. Even if he sits out a year and never quite returns to his All-NBA, the 35-year-old could likely still contribute as a solid scorer, shooter, and distributor.
The Boston Celtics got into the running for Lillard’s services recently.
During an interview with Noa Dalzell and Bobby Manning of CLNS Media, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe indicated that another All-Star who tore his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs was putting on a full court recruiting press this summer.
“I just was told that they’re communicating and Tatum is recruiting. I mean, Tatum is the face of the franchise,” Washburn said. “Like, I don’t know if it’s that deep but they are communicating and I think we all know Tatum’s going to be here for a long time and I think that the players who have come to Boston, from Kevin Garnett to Ray Allen to Isaiah Thomas, even our friend Marcus Morris, guys who we traditionally thought might not like it here ended up really liking it in Boston and didn’t want to leave, all the way now to Jrue Holiday.”
All those efforts were apparently for naught.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Lillard has opted for a homecoming instead.
Sources: Damian Lillard reaches 3-year, $42M deal to return to Trail Blazers – via ESPN https://t.co/2VjHAPK9Cw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2025
Lillard has agreed to a three-season, $42 million deal — replete with an extremely rare no-trade clause — to rejoin the team where he first made his name, the Portland Trail Blazers. Charania notes that Lillard is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season while rehabilitating at home in Portland. Lillard will have a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Portland initially selected Lillard with the No. 6 pick out of Weber State in 2012. He made an instant impact and was named Rookie of the Year for his efforts.
Lillard spent his first 11 pro seasons in Portland, dragging the Trail Blazers to multiple playoff runs, including an appearance in the 2019 NBA Western Conference Finals. He still keeps a home in the area.
While with Portland, Lillard made seven All-Star and All-NBA squads. He was so good, he finished among the top eight in MVP voting five times. All told, Lillard averaged 25.2 points on .439/.372/.895 shooting splits, 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in his 769 regular season bouts (all starts).
Lillard was flipped to the Bucks after he demanded a trade away from the rebuilding Trail Blazers two offseason ago. He was expected to form a lethal tandem with Milwaukee superstar power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and compete for championships. Instead, Lillard missed playoff games during both his two seasons in town, helping the Bucks fall to the Pacers in the first round twice.
In 58 healthy games last season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points while slashing .439/.371/.899, plus 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds a night.
Lillard now rejoins a retooling Portland club that posted a strong finish to its 2024-25 season, but still landed in the lottery with a 36-46 overall record.
The Trail Blazers already sported an intriguing young core comprising perpetual triple-double threat Deni Avdija, All-Defensive Team forward Toumani Camara, 7-foot-plus centers Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, and former lottery pick guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
Earlier this summer, the Trail Blazers sent starting point guard Anfernee Simons to the Celtics in exchange for six-time All-Defensive Team combo guard Jrue Holiday — the player Milwaukee initially flipped for Lillard in 2023.
Portland also bought out starting center Deandre Ayton, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. The Trail Blazers still boast two movable veteran contracts in the deals of forward Jerami Grant and center Robert Williams, and could theoretically add younger players who better align with the club’s timeline.
Boston would have been playing the long game with a Lillard signing. With Tatum likely shelved for most or all of 2025-26 as well, the Celtics have already begun retooling for something of a “gap” year.
The Holiday trade was just one piece of the puzzle.
Boston also offloaded starting center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-time exchange with the Brooklyn Nets, while also letting free agent center Luke Kornet walk. Another free agent big man, Al Horford, also appears to be looking for an exit.
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