Trail Blazers include rare no-trade clause in Damian Lillard’s new three-year deal
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The three-year contract that brought Damian Lillard back to the Portland Trail Blazers contains a seldom-seen no-trade clause, according to reporting from Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. The provision ensures the 35-year-old guard will remain in Portland unless he personally approves a move.
Highkin writes that general manager Joe Cronin may have offered the clause to restore Lillard’s trust after trading him to Milwaukee in 2023 when the player had preferred Miami. The guarantee also accommodates Lillard’s desire to stay close to his children as he approaches the end of his career.
Lillard’s deal is structured at the taxpayer mid-level exception: $14.1 million in 2025-26, $13.4 million in 2026-27, and $14.1 million in 2027-28. With standard 5 percent annual raises, he could have earned roughly $2.8 million more overall.
Highkin cautions that expectations for Lillard’s scoring should be tempered while he recovers from an Achilles tear. The six-time All-Star plans an 18-month rehabilitation, and advancements in medical treatment since Kobe Bryant’s similar injury in 2013 could aid his return.
Frontcourt rotation
Rookies Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen are projected to handle most of Portland’s center minutes, Highkin adds. Robert Williams III, limited to 26 games over two seasons with the Blazers, is reportedly healthy but will be managed carefully, likely skipping back-to-back sets.
Imagem: Arthur Hill via hoopsrumors.com
Franchise sale update
The organization remains tight-lipped about its ongoing sale process. Highkin notes that details about prospective buyers are unlikely to surface before an agreement is finalized, though the team is expected to fetch at least $4 billion.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson spoke with NBA commissioner Adam Silver for roughly 30 minutes on June 4 to affirm the city’s commitment to keeping the franchise. The conversation occurred about three weeks after the Blazers announced plans to explore a sale. Mayoral spokesperson Cody Bowman said Wilson has been in close contact with team officials throughout the process.
Source: Hoops Rumors
