If you haven’t been checking the box scores lately, you might’ve missed one of the weirdest full-circle moments in NBA history. Damian Lillard is back in a Portland Trail Blazers jersey. Yeah, you read that right. The "Dame Time" era in Milwaukee ended way sooner than anyone expected, and honestly, the way it went down was kinda brutal.
It wasn't some blockbuster, "he requested a trade back home" situation either. Life just came at the Bucks fast. After a 2024-25 season plagued by a calf blood clot and then a devastating Achilles tear in April 2025, Milwaukee decided to move on. They used the "stretch and release" provision on his massive contract to clear space for Myles Turner. Suddenly, the greatest player in Blazers history was a free agent with a long rehab ahead of him.
Portland didn't hesitate. They brought him home on a three-year, $41.6 million deal in the summer of 2025. It’s a wild financial setup because he’s still getting paid nearly $70 million this year between the Bucks’ "stretched" money and his new Portland salary.
Damian Lillard New Team: Why the Return to Portland Works Now
Most people thought the Blazers were strictly in "rebuild mode" with Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan. But the vibe has shifted. Dame isn't coming back to be the 35-point-per-game carry-job he was in 2019. He’s the veteran presence this young core desperately needed.
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The Blazers are currently sitting at 20-22 as of mid-January 2026. That might not sound like much, but in the meat-grinder of the Western Conference, they’re actually in the hunt.
- Defensive Cover: Unlike the old days where Dame had to outscore everyone because the defense was a sieve, he now has Toumani Camara and Clingan cleaning up mistakes.
- The Mentor Role: Watching him work with the young guards has changed the team's professional ceiling.
- Health Status: He's finally back on the floor after that Achilles surgery, and while the "burst" is still coming back, the shooting hasn't aged a day.
Honestly, seeing him back in the Pacific Northwest feels right. The experiment in Milwaukee was supposed to be a championship lock with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but injuries and a lack of chemistry turned it into a "what if" story. Now, Lillard's decision to return was as much about his family and legacy as it was about basketball. He saw a roster that finally had the defensive pieces he lacked for a decade.
The Financial Side of the Move
Let's get real about the money for a second because it’s confusing. When Milwaukee waived him, they didn't just delete his contract. They stretched that $103 million over five years. This gave Portland the opening to sign him to a team-friendly "homecoming" deal.
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He’s currently one of the highest-paid players in the league this season because he’s double-dipping. It’s a unique situation where a team (Milwaukee) is paying a superstar not to play for them, while his original team gets him back for a fraction of his market value.
Can This Team Actually Compete?
There’s a lot of chatter about whether this is just a "farewell tour" or a legitimate playoff run. The Blazers have made huge strides. Adding Jrue Holiday back into the mix (yeah, it’s a total reunion vibes team right now) has given them a backcourt that can actually lock people down.
The defense is no longer the joke of the league. With Jerami Grant moving to a scoring punch role off the bench, the rotation actually looks... deep? It’s weird to say about Portland, but it’s true.
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What to Watch for the Rest of the Season
If you're following Damian Lillard new team progress, the February 5th trade deadline is the next big date. There are rumors that CJ McCollum might even find his way back to Portland to complete the "Old Guard" reunion. While that might be more sentimental than practical, this Blazers front office seems committed to surrounding their young stars with the guys who built the culture.
Actionable Insights for Blazers Fans:
- Monitor the Minutes: Dame is still on a "return to play" protocol. Don't panic if he sits out one half of back-to-backs.
- Watch the Clingan/Dame PNR: This is the future. The gravity Dame creates is opening up massive lanes for the rookie big man.
- Check the Standings: Portland is currently 4th in the Northwest Division. If they can stay healthy, a Play-In spot is the floor.
The reality is that Lillard's "new" team is his old one, but the context has changed. He isn't the only option anymore, and for the first time in his career, that might be exactly what he needs to actually win. Keep an eye on the home games at Moda Center; the energy there hasn't been this high since the 2019 Western Conference Finals run.