DameTine is coming home.
According to Shams Charania, the man who was the face of the Trail Blazers for nearly a decade has agreed on a 3-year, $42 million deal with Portland.
Lillard spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, following a blockbuster trade that sent Lillard to the Bucks, Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camera a 2029 first round pick and pick swap rights in 2029 and 2030 to the Trail Blazers, while Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson were sent to the Suns.
Lillard largely continued with the level of production we are accustomed to seeing, with per-game numbers of 24.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. Although the Bucks were 73-43 with Dame and Giannis in the lineup throughout the two seasons he was there, the trade did not propel Milwaukee back to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Bucks did not advance past the first round, losing to the Indiana Pacers in both seasons, 4-2 and 4-1, respectively. The Bucks’ defense regressed, as they sorely missed the point of attack defense and overall defensive presence.
Lillard ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs, and the prospect of him taking the court in 2025-26 is murky at best. He is currently rehabbing from the injury.
