By Joel Perez 
Damian Lillard making his way back to the Portland Trail Blazers has such a mystique to it that it
almost doesn’t seem real—but here we are… a full-circle moment for Dame Time, the Blazers,
and the city of Portland. I’m sure they can’t hold back their excitement considering who’s coming
back to their franchise… Dame Time himself!!!
Alright, first off, let’s get this started with how we actually got here. It’s the summer of 2023 and
NBA Twitter goes into a frenzy over the news from Shams that Damian Lillard wants out of
Portland and specifically wants to go to the Miami Heat. Well, after some long weeks of
speculation—and when I say long weeks, I mean absolutely dreadful, for reasons more than me
just being a hopeful Heat fan who desperately wanted Damian Lillard on his team for obvious
reasons—it was more dreadful because that bit of news and speculation seemed to be the only
content regarding the NBA at the time. And unexpectedly so… Dame wasn’t making his way to
South Beach as he requested but instead was headed to the Milwaukee Bucks to join forces
with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
At first glance, I was, of course, upset about the fact Dame wasn’t going to be playing with the
Heat alongside Jimmy & Bam. But after that initial thought, I was extremely intrigued at the
thought of both Giannis and Dame as a tandem—as we all know now. There are mixed reviews
on the result of this trade, but if we’re 100% being real about it, it’s definitely a failure. And I
mean that with the utmost respect, as I applaud Milwaukee for going for it and really trying to
maximize the “Giannis Window” in every way they possibly could. This last huge commitment of
theirs—waiving Dame and stretching his contract in order to create the flexibility to sign Myles
Turner—one thousand percent represents that commitment to maximizing this window they
have with their franchise-altering superstar.
With that being said, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to forego the next two years of Dame’s
contract—he was expected to make an average of $56 million—and instead waive him and
stretch the remaining two years left of his contract into five years, granting him an annual salary
of $22.5 million for the next five years. This is on top of what the Portland Trail Blazers have
granted Damian Lillard as a free-agent acquisition, finalizing a 3-year deal worth up to $42
million along with the infamous no-trade clause, giving him the opportunity and ultimately the
deciding factor to finish out his career with the Portland Trail Blazers.
With that being said, Damian Lillard won’t be playing next year but instead rehabilitating his torn
Achilles tendon close to people within the Blazers organization he ultimately trusts and, more
importantly, his family & friends. For basketball reasons, it doesn’t make 100% sense as the
Trail Blazers are still in rebuild mode (for now), but as every fan of the sport knows… Damian
Lillard is loyal—to a fault—and should be studied. And for that, I commend him and wish him the
absolute best back with the franchise and city that took him with the number 6 overall pick all
the way back in 2012.
To Portland Trail Blazers fans everywhere… It’ll be Dame Time in no time.
Angel Rivera