Damian Lillard-Blazers contract details: Inside his $42 million move to Portland

Damian Lillard, recently waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers

Updated on: Jul 18, 2025, 03:27:46 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, recently waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN reported, citing sources. The deal marks a homecoming for the franchise icon and will reportedly include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause.

Damian Lillard reacts after causing an Indiana Pacers turnover (Getty Images via AFP)

Damian Lillard contract details

Lillard’s three-year, $42 million deal reportedly includes a player option for 2027-28 and a no-trade clause, ensuring control over his future. The contract averages $14 million annually, a significant reduction from his $63 million/year Bucks deal.

ESPN reported multiple meetings between Lillard and GM Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups. Shams Charania reported that the 35-year-old and the Trail Blazers are enthusiastic about the reunion.

The Bucks waived Lillard in early July, stretching his $113 million remaining contract to sign Myles Turner. Lillard’s Achilles tear in Game 4 of the Bucks’ playoff loss to the Pacers (April 2025) requires rehabilitation through the 2025-26 season, delaying his return to play.

“This is an opportunity for Damian to stay home to continue his rehabilitation, take time to decide where he wants to play next, while still being paid his entire contract,” said Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, had said back then.

Damian Lillard, a nine-time NBA All-Star, has played 13 seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 25.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds over 900 regular-season games. He led Portland to eight playoff appearances, including the 2018-19 Western Conference Finals, and holds franchise records for points and 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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