A grim situation has turned into a feel-good homecoming for Damian Lillard.

Two weeks after the Milwaukee Bucks announced it would waive and stretch the final two years and $103 million of his contract, Damian Lillard is reportedly finalizing a three-year, $42 million deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lillard’s two-year stay with the Bucks was largely unsuccessful, with injuries derailing both seasons which ended with disappointing first round exits. The highlight of his stay was the team’s 2024 NBA Cup (Formerly In-Season Tournament) win, but the team’s fortunes took a tail spin from that point on. 

The 35-year-old guard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in late March then prematurely returned for the postseason less than a month later. He wound up tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of their first round series against the Indiana Pacers, an injury that typically takes a year to rehabilitate. With Lillard likely to miss the entirety of next season, Milwaukee made the decision to waive Lillard and stretch the remainder of his contract to give them the flexibility to sign center Myles Turner away from the Pacers. 

Several teams were reportedly interested in signing Lillard, but he ultimately made the decision to return to the franchise with whom he spent the first 11 years of his NBA career. The Blazers are far from being a contender, though they have gathered a collection of promising players since Lillard’s departure two years ago.

Portland now pairs Damian Lillard with his former nemesis Jrue Holiday, giving the team a balanced backcourt that blends Lillard’s shot-making with Holiday’s defense. Both guards are in the twilight of their careers, but in managed minutes they can still make an impact on either end of the floor.

Their value goes well beyond the court too. Lillard and Holiday will serve as mentors for Portland’s young core—most notably fellow guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, who should benefit even from just seeing their veterans’ day-to-day routines.

A championship run may be out of reach right now, yet if Lillard and Holiday can rub off on this young roster, the Blazers could become a contender sooner rather than later. This team does have the pieces–from Henderson and Sharpe in the backcourt to Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Yang Hansen in the frontcourt–to eventually become a powerhouse in the West.

For now, Lillard’s chase for a championship can wait. What matters more at the moment is his rehabilitation from this devastating injury, as well as his reunion with Portland’s loyal fanbase. If Lillard can rub off on this next generation of Blazers, this franchise’s next great era might arrive faster than anyone thinks.