After a little more than two weeks on the free-agent market, Damian Lillard has found a home.
A familiar one.
According to multiple reports, Lillard is rejoining the Portland Trail Blazers after agreeing to a three-year, $42 million deal.
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Lillard, who is recovering from an Achilles injury sustained April 27, was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012 by the Blazers, with whom he won Rookie of the Year and made seven All-Star teams. In 11 seasons in Portland, Lillard averaged 25.2 points and 6.7 assists per game.
Lillard was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks using the stretch provision to provide the financial flexibility needed for the team to sign free-agent center Myles Turner.
It was another tough turn for Lillard after suffering the devastating injury.
Yahoo Sports senior writer Dan Devine reflected on Lillard’s time in Malwuakee:
Lillard produced, because he always does: 24.6 points on .604 true shooting, 7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 35.7 minutes per game across two seasons in Milwaukee, finishing 10th in the NBA in points and assists per game and 11th in offensive estimated plus-minus last season. But he never quite found a rhythm in the two-man game with [Giannis] Antetokounmpo, never quite established the short-hand that can help make a team more than the sum of its all-time-great parts and never quite proved to be the order-of-magnitude offensive upgrade that justified moving on from defensive title-winning stalwart Jrue Holiday — a realization that proved particularly painful when Holiday got re-routed to Boston and immediately became a vital two-way contributor to the Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship.
After being traded for Holiday in 2023, Lillard is now his teammate in Portland although the point guard is unlikely to play next season.
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Let’s hope things turn for the better for Lillard.
Here you’ll find our top 27 overall free-agent rankings and where players signed.
This list bakes in contractual expectations — meaning value for the money — potential for younger players, risk of decline for older players, a premium on long-range shooters (hey, teams want them!) and injury history.
To use an example, you’ll find both Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon in the 20s, primarily due to their general lack of availability in recent years. Had they played more, they would have been higher on the list.
Without further ado, let’s get to it.
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Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small Forwards | Power forwards | Centers
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