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Deal being finalized to return Damian Lillard to Trail Blazers

Thu Jul 17 5:54pm ET
Field Level Media

Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Per ESPN, Lillard now will receive a salary of $70 million between his existing deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and his new contract with the Trail Blazers. He also will have a player-option in 2027 and a no-trade clause in a deal that returns Lillard to the franchise with which he spent his first 11 NBA seasons.

Lillard, who turned 35 on Tuesday, saw his season come to an abrupt end on April 27 after an excruciating torn left Achilles tendon knocked him out of the rest of the playoffs.

He is expected to miss the 2025-26 season.


Lillard was hurt in the first quarter of the Bucks' 129-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series in just his third game back after dealing with a blood clot in his right calf. He missed the final 14 games of the regular season and the first contest of the playoff series against the Pacers.

Lillard requested a trade out of Portland in the summer of 20xx and the team obliged. The Trail Blazers were entering a transition into a rebuild and Lillard wanted to go to a team in which he could compete for a championship.

Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 regular-season games during his second season with the Bucks. He was waived by Milwaukee on July 7.

Lillard owns career averages of 25.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 900 regular-season contests. His 2,804 3-pointers rank fourth in NBA history and his 22,598 points rank eighth among active players.

Player Notes
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wed Jul 23 2:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo intends to play for Greece in EuroBasket 2025, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. With questions surrounding the 30-year-old's future in Milwaukee beginning to cool, Antetokounmpo is set to lead a strong Greek squad into a challenging opener against Italy on August 28. The path to a EuroBasket title won't be easy, as he'll face top-tier competition, including NBA stars Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia). Serbian big man Nikola Jokic has not yet committed to playing, though Stein noted Wednesday that a decision is expected soon.

Ethan Thompson Wed Jul 23 1:10pm

On Wednesday, the Orlando Magic waived guard Ethan Thompson. He had agreed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Magic last February. Releasing the Oregon State product now provides Orlando with one of its two-way roster spots open for centerOrlando Robinson. Thompson, who has yet to make his NBA debut, was with the Magic's G League affiliate in Osceola during the 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old averaged 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 three-pointers, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in 33.5 minutes per game in over 47 outings.

Lindy Waters III Wed Jul 23 12:10pm

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that free agent guard Lindy Waters III has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Waters has spent parts of four seasons in the NBA, shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc across 156 regular-season games. Last campaign, he averaged 4.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 52 contests with Detroit and Golden State. The 27-year-old will likely see a limited role in the Spurs rotation during the upcoming season.

Vlatko Cancar Wed Jul 23 7:30am

Forward Vlatko Cancar will head back to Europe for the 2025-26 season, having signed a multi-year contract with Olimpia Milano. Cancar played in Spain before being signed by the Denver Nuggets in 2019. He spent his entire NBA career with the Nuggets, winning the championship in 2023. However, Cancar struggled to make an impact in the league, appearing in only 143 games over six years. He missed the 2023-24 season due to a left ACL tear and was limited to 13 appearances in 2024-25 after suffering another knee injury. The 28-year-old Slovenian averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes during his NBA career.

Lamar Stevens Wed Jul 23 7:20am

Forward Lamar Stevens has decided to pause his NBA career by signing a one-year contract with Paris Basketball. The Penn State product has played in 220 NBA games, starting his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has also appeared with the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies. In 2024-25, Stevens averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.1 minutes with the Grizzlies, who picked him up in February. Overall, he has posted 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game during his NBA career. Although Stevens has faced difficulties securing a spot in the National Basketball Association in recent years, he might still have a chance to return to the league after turning only 28 this month.

Kyle Filipowski Wed Jul 23 6:50am

Utah Jazz forward/center Kyle Filipowski has been named the 2025 NBA Summer League MVP. The Duke product averaged a league-leading 29.3 points per game at the tournament and notched 7.7 rebounds with 2.3 assists in three outings. He is the first Jazz player ever to win MVP honors in the Summer League. Filipowski looked great in the summer, and he should also carry plenty of confidence into next season from his fine rookie campaign. The 21-year-old posted 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. As a starter, Filipowski increased his output to 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Filipowski if he can retain a starting role in 2025-26.

Josh Okogie Tue Jul 22 1:10pm

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, free agent guard/forward Josh Okogie has agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Okogie lands in Houston after being waived by Charlotte last week. The 26-year-old is a strong defender who has played in over 416 career regular-season games, averaging 8.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 19.1 minutes per contest. However, he will not be a significant factor in fantasy, as his role is likely to be limited in the Rockets' rotation.

Blake Wesley Tue Jul 22 12:10pm

On Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers and guard Blake Wesley agreed to a one-year deal, per Michael Scotto of USA Today. The Wizards recently waived Wesley after he spent the last three campaigns in San Antonio. In 2024-25, Wesley averaged 3.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 11.8 minutes per game across 58 regular-season outings. Perhaps the 22-year-old will establish himself with a new opportunity in Portland after struggling to make an impact in Texas.

Ben Simmons Tue Jul 22 7:30am

Guard/forward Ben Simmons remains an unrestricted free agent but may soon land a contract for next season. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the former All-Star has drawn interest from the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks. Because of his health concerns, Simmons' productivity has dropped like a rock in recent years, and he is likely to be viewed mainly as a depth player, limiting his fantasy value in 2025-26. Last season with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, Simmons made only 51 appearances, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game.

Dean Wade Tue Jul 22 7:20am

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade might play for a different team in 2025-26. The 28-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and is not expected to re-sign with the Cavaliers. This could lead the team to trade Wade rather than lose him for free. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, "numerous contenders from each conference have expressed interest" in Wade. Although Wade has put up somewhat underwhelming numbers over his six-year NBA career, he is a reliable defender and a decent three-point shooter. The Kansas State product also has an affordable $6.6 million salary, which makes him an even more appealing trade target.

Orlando Robinson Tue Jul 22 7:00am

The Orlando Magic have signed center Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract. The 25-year-old, who went undrafted in 2022, has joined his fourth NBA team. Robinson started his career with the Miami Heat and split time with the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors last season. He had some joy on the Raptors team, averaging 8.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 20.4 minutes. However, Toronto waived Robinson on April 10, and he now has to prove himself with another organization. Orlando has a strong frontcourt, so Robinson is not expected to get much NBA action in 2025-26.

Jonas Valanciunas Tue Jul 22 7:00am

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas has put an end to speculation surrounding his future by stating he's "fully committed" to the team. "I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me," Valanciunas told BasketNews. "The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me, but that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship." Valanciunas has been a walking double-double throughout his NBA career, but his fantasy value is projected to decline significantly in 2025-26, as he will only see backup minutes behind Nikola Jokic.

Chris Paul Tue Jul 22 6:50am

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul will reportedly only be a bit-part player with the team next season. "From what I understand, he's not gonna have guaranteed playing time," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported. "There are going to be nights where James Harden and their backup Kris Dunn get the minutes at point guard, and Chris Paul might not play at all, which is what we have not seen from him before." Windhorst added that Paul "understands" the situation. While it's intriguing to see Paul back with the Clippers, he won't be very valuable in standard fantasy formats without a regular role in the rotation.

Trey Jemison Mon Jul 21 4:40pm

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports that the Los Angeles Lakers waived centerTrey Jemison III on Monday. Jemison agreed to a two-way deal with the Lakers in January after the Pelicans waived him. The 25-year-old saw action in 38 games between Los Angeles and New Orleansduring the 2024-25 regular season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per contest. If Jemison finds a new home, come training camp, he will not be a player who makes an impact in fantasy during the upcoming season.

Christian Koloko Mon Jul 21 4:20pm

The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to sign center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract on Monday, per Shams Charania of ESPN. During the 2024-25 regular season, the 7-footer saw action in 37 games, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds across 9.2 minutes per contest. For the foreseeable future, Koloko will likely continue to see a limited amount of minutes at center with Deandre AytonandJaxson Hayes in the mix.

Doug McDermott Mon Jul 21 4:00pm

On Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports that free agent forward Doug McDermott has agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Sacramento Kings. The 2025-26 campaign will be McDermott's 12th season in the NBA. The veteran sharpshooter shot 44 percent from beyond the arc last season. However, he averaged only 3.5 points across 8.1 minutes per game in 42 contests. He will likely once again see limited action with a crowded Kings frontcourt that includes DeMar DeRozanandKeegan Murray.

Chris Paul Mon Jul 21 3:40pm

According to NBA reporter Chris Haynes, free agent guard Chris Paul has reached an agreement to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year, $3.6 million deal on Tuesday. The future Hall of Famer is once again on the Clippers roster, having previously spent six seasons with the franchise. Paul has since played forthe Rockets, Thunder, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs. Last season with the Spurs, the 40-year-old saw action in all 82 regular-season contests, posting averages of 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals across 28 minutes per contest. Paul appears to have some gas left in the tank, and he could have more than a few strong fantasy showings during the 2025-26 season, suiting up alongside veterans Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

Yuki Kawamura Sun Jul 20 3:50pm

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way deal over the weekend. This doesn't come as a shock given how well Kawamura has been playing in the summer league. In five summer league contests, Kawamura averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. The 24-year-old saw limited action during his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies last year. He averaged 1.6 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes per game in 22 games. Honestly, it wasn't enough playing time to give Kawamura a fair assessment. It's unclear how much he'll actually play in Chicago, but he has earned a chance to show what he can do.

Marcus Smart Sun Jul 20 3:40pm

According to Shams Charania, guard Marcus Smart is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Washington Wizards. The two sides are reportedly set to agree on a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a player option for the 2026 season. Smart has spent most of his career with the Boston Celtics. However, he spent each of the last two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. He saw his numbers take a dip in 2024, but a move to a competitive Lakers roster should help his fantasy value. Smart is a solid player on both sides of the ball and has a clear path to playing time in Los Angeles. There should certainly be daily fantasy value from Smart this upcoming season, assuming he does join the Lakers.

Shake Milton Sun Jul 20 3:30pm

Los Angeles Lakers guard Shake Milton was waived by the organization on Sunday. The Lakers were forced to make a decision with Milton's $3 million salary set to be guaranteed on Sunday. Now, Milton becomes a cap casualty as the Lakers clear some space to likely add Marcus Smart. Last season, Milton averaged 5.5 points and 1.8 assists across 14.7 minutes in 57 games between the Lakers and Nets. Milton figures to draw some interest once he clears waivers. He's a solid rotational player that could help a number of teams, but is unlikely to have daily fantasy value.


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