Two years on from leaving the Trail Blazers for the Milwaukee Bucks, the 35-year-old will make his homecoming. He is set to sign a $42 million contract for three years with Portland.
Lillard will also have a net paycheck of $70 million from the deal between Portland and Milwaukee. His salary will also reach $141 million across the next two years, with a potential opt-out in 2027.
It was confirmed earlier this month that the point guard was cut by the Bucks, who signed Myles Turner in his place. After his exit from Milwaukee, it was rumoured that the Golden State Warriors were interested in Lillard, but that never panned out.
Lillard, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, is not expected to see the court next season. He had picked up the injury during the NBA playoffs last season. That was not the only significant ailment the former Weber State Wildcat had. He also had a blood clot in his right calf, which ruled him out for nearly a month.
Before joining the Bucks in 2023, Lillard had spent all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers. Throughout his career in the league, the man from Oakland has played in 900 regular season contests plus 68 playoff games. He has been an All-Star pick in seven of the last eight years, including the most recent three.
Portland failed to make the postseason last year after posting a 36-46 record in the Western Conference, missing out on the play-in round by three games.