“Boston, Minnesota — dozens of other teams — had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks,” Charania said. “Next year, Damian Lillard will make $70 million between his Bucks and Blazers salaries. In the next two years, he’ll be at $140 million combined in salaries.”

Lillard spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Trail Blazers before requesting a trade in 2023. The Trail Blazers ultimately sent the Oakland native to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he spent the last two years of his career. Milwaukee waived him after he suffered an Achilles injury to sign Myles Turner.

While the Celtics were in the running to land Damian Lillard on the free agency market, instead, the nine-time All-Star chose to return to the Trail Blazers. Lillard reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with Portland,