Lillard Returns to Portland for a Rebuilt Trail Blazers Roster

Damian Lillard returned to the Portland Trail Blazers in July 2025 after Milwaukee waived him with two years and $113 million remaining on his contract. The move ended a three-year stint with the Bucks that began with a trade request in the summer of 2023. Lillard played the first 11 seasons of his career with Portland, where he reached the conference finals once but never won a championship. He missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from an Achilles tear sustained in 2025. Portland signed him back as part of a roster overhaul that followed his departure from the franchise. Lillard said the Blazers were the first team to offer him a contract after his release from Milwaukee.

The Trail Blazers opened the 2026-27 season with a 2-0 record. They defeated the Sacramento Kings in their second game on Tuesday, a match scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Lillard played limited minutes, averaging 28.5 per game through the first two contests. He scored 25 points in the season opener and added 19 in the win over Sacramento. The team features a deep backcourt that includes Lillard, former All-Star Ja Morant, two-time champion Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson. Frontcourt options include Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, and Deni Avdija. First-year head coach Micah Nori has managed the rotation so that all but one of the 10 players appearing in both games averaged at least 12 minutes.

Lillard’s earlier departure allowed Portland to acquire assets for its current roster. The trade that sent him to Milwaukee brought in Camara and Avdija. The subsequent rebuild secured the draft pick used to select Clingan. His waiver gave him the financial flexibility to sign a team-friendly deal with the Blazers. Lillard stated that the team could not have formed its current structure without his initial departure. He noted that the franchise would still have been searching for players rather than rebuilding with developed talent and assets. The three-year detour included a partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has since been traded, and personal challenges as his family remained in Portland.

The current roster structure reduces the individual burden on Lillard. Morant noted that the group plays without ego, allowing minutes to be spread effectively. Nori utilized this versatility in the win over the Kings, pulling both Lillard and Morant during a late possession to increase defensive presence. Lillard said the variety of talent, including the defensive skills of Camara and Holiday and the playmaking of Morant, simplifies the game. He expects to enter the postseason feeling healthy and ready to compete. Lillard believes the adversity of the last three years was necessary to create the current opportunity for the franchise.

The Blazers have not yet faced significant adversity in the early season. Lillard expects to have a strong individual and team campaign. He views his return as a chance to demonstrate his character and contribution to a winning effort. The team’s success in the first two games relies on a collective approach rather than a single player carrying the load. Lillard said he does not feel overwhelmed by responsibility under the current setup. He aims to play deep into the season and playoffs without the physical toll required in previous years.