😏Lillard returns to Portland for 3 years and $42 million! ESPN Rating: Trail Blazers A-

(The original article was published on July 18, and the author is Kevin Pelton of ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers for 4 years and $42 million rating: A-

Lillard returned to Portland, bringing a successful end to the unhappy chapter with the Bucks. In his work with the Bucks, he suffered an Achilles tendon injury and was cut by the team with two years left in his contract.

When he had the first chance to choose his destination as a free agent in his career, Lillard chose to return to his first 11 seasons of glory, where his family and children still live.

At the basketball level, Lillard will bring new highlights to the Trail Blazers. In the second half of last season, the Trail Blazers found a new team position in his absence. Portland got Kamala through Lillard's trade and used the players and draft picks obtained from the trade to trade for Avdia. These two players are the main contributors to the Trail Blazers' record of 23 wins and 18 losses in the second half of last season. Now, Portland has not only Ju Holiday (as part of the Lillard deal, he was traded to the Boston Celtics a few days later and then re-signed this summer in exchange for Anfini Simmons), but Lillard and the young talent brought by these deals - there will be more Milwaukee first-round picks and swaps in the future.

Considering Lillard's rupture in the Achilles tendon suffered at the end of April, it is unlikely that he will play for the Trail Blazers this season. Since JJ Barrea in 2019, no NBA player has been able to return in less than 10.5 months after an injury, which means Lillard will not return until mid-March next year as soon as possible.

Although the Trail Blazers reached a buyout agreement with center DeAndre Ayton on the eve of the free agent market, it was part of the Lillard deal, but the Trail Blazers could still use its full middle class exception to pay Lillard more than the $54 million he had guaranteed with the Bucks without triggering the luxury tax.

In fact, the key to this deal is to ensure that Lillard can return in the 2026-27 season, when a healthy Lillard (value) may exceed the $14 million the Trail Blazers will pay him.

By then, Portland should have a clearer understanding of the backcourt lineup. Anfini Simmons's trade will create more ball-holding opportunities for Scudt Henderson in its third season, and the Blazers will also be aware of Holiday's form and the long-term prospects of shooting guard Sheden Sharp. If Sharp fails to reach an early renewal agreement before the start of the season, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. The Trail Blazers still have work to do, especially if the team hopes to make a difference in the free market next year. Considering Lillard's salary and Sharp's $25.2 million salary space, Trail Blazers may be more suitable to stay above the salary cap at present. However, if Portland can get rid of the remaining two years of veteran Jerami Grant’s contract, they have the potential to free up their cap space to attract another capable player to join.

Lillard successfully negotiated a favorable contract. If he performs well in the 2026-27 season, he can choose to continue to receive higher salaries after the final year of his contract, when he will no longer receive his salary from Milwaukee. In addition, after failing to go to the original target team in the 2023 trade, Lillard obtained a trade veto, becoming the only player in the league to have the clause after LeBron James. Bradley Bill's veto for a deal expired after a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Original text: Kevin Pelton

Compiled: selu

source:bóng đá 7m cn