Damian Lillard signed a three-year $42 million contract to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers after suffering an Achilles injury in April.

BREAKING: Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/gxZB0ObSms

Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard heads back to the Portland Trail Blazers after a two-season tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. His reach at championship glory e

Damian Lillard has chosen to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers since being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks in a surprising move. Now we know why Lillard chose to return to Portland.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters Wednesday that while the league prefers the for-sale Portland Trail Blazers new owners keep the team in the Rose City, the city "likely needs a new arena" to do so.

ESPN first reported the deal. Lillard was the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Trail Blazers and spent 11 seasons with Portland before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks just before the 2023-24 season.

One of the surprises at the 2025 NBA draft was the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Chinese Yang Hansen at No. 16 overall, a player many considered a fringe first-round prospect at best.

The NBA’s announcement of an expansion analysis was met with a muted response from potential expansion applicants and tepid optimism among fans in Seattle.