In one of the biggest surprises of NBA free agency, Damian Lillard is going home. Not to Utah, where he played his college ball at Weber State University. Not to the Bay Area, where he grew up and played high school ball. Lillard, who was bought out recently by the Milwaukee Bucks, is returning to the Pacific Northwest. To the Portland Trail Blazers.
And the Utah Jazz fanbase should be pumped at this news.
Why? There are a number of reasons.
Lillard, who will be sidelined during the 2025-26 NBA season, was floated to be a trade candidate to join the Utah Jazz before Milwaukee made the stunning move to waive and stretch his deal, making him a free agent.
While he wouldn't play in the upcoming season, the idea of having him around to mentor the team's young guards was looked at as a positive.
So why are we happy about Lillard's move to Portland?
One of the reasons Jazz fans should be excited is that Lillard got a no-trade clause, meaning he can't be moved without his consent. And it is well documented that Lillard was homesick in Milwaukee, as his family stayed behind in Portland when he was dealt to the Bucks. A return to Portland is just what Lillard wants.
Another is that he has a player option for the final year (3 year, $42 million deal) meaning any team that did want to trade for him a year from now would do so knowing he's a one-year rental, and if he's not fully recovered from the Achilles injury, is likely to opt-in for that final year at age 37.
Also, Lillard going elsewhere means Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje, and RJ Luis Jr. will have a full runway to minutes and growth for the 2025-26 season and beyond. No looking over their shoulder, wondering if the Ainge's are getting itchy about making Lillard the starter in 2026-27.
The best thing about Lillard moving to Portland?
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to improve this coming season. Having Dame on their roster and around their young guys will spur growth, as he is a living legend in Portland.
This should get the Trail Blazers out of the lottery and into the playoff picture in the West, which helps the Utah Jazz stay in line to keep their 2026 first-round pick.
That pick, part of the Derrick Favors salary dump years ago, is in the final year to convey and has top-eight protection this time around. So the Jazz want to keep that at all costs, especially with top talent like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson projected to be available.
This could turn out to be the best thing for the Jazz rebuild, as it removes the temptation to straddle the line between youth and veterans, which we all witnessed over the past few years.
With the Utah Jazz finally moving on from most of their veterans this offseason, the direction is clear: the young players are going to play, learn, struggle, and won't have many veterans to contend with in the process.