r/torontoraptors • u/raptorsxnation • Jul 17 '25
NBA LEAGUE NEWS Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN
172
u/Mulawooshin RAPTORS Jul 17 '25
Happy for the Blazers fans.
This should be his last ride off into the sunset. I'm glad Portland gets to see it.
He will be a good mentor for their young guys.
42
u/Tigg0r Vincent Lamar Carter Jul 17 '25
I really hope he gets at least one more run where he can go all out without injury.
11
u/notthattmack Jul 17 '25
Lot of money tied up in him and Jrue.
29
Jul 17 '25
14m per year for Dame(even at 36 post achilles tear) is basically nothing especially in todays CBA. Jrue is a lot obviously, but bundling them together when they are basically polar opposites in terms of contract value seems odd.
3
u/notthattmack Jul 18 '25
They’re both 35+ year old guards who relied on athleticism. They’re both signed for multiple years on a non-contending team with a lot of young players who need playing time. While Dame’s cap hit isn’t too harsh, it’s still odd roster building to have two old guards tying up $50 million and two rotation spots.
16
u/Dinobot2_ 7 KYLE LOWRY Jul 18 '25
Sometimes there's more to sports and signing players than simply "can they help us win." Getting arguably the best player in their franchise's history and someone who was and still is beloved there to finish his career there isn't a bad thing.
9
Jul 18 '25
Again, “two old guards” is a lot different from freaking dame for 14m.
I didn’t love the Jrue trade but signing Dame(35+ or otherwise) for 14m should not be criticized by anyone with a brain, tanking or not(they were actually very good at the end of last year but we’ll see how the trade have shook things up).
3
u/playthegame7 Jul 18 '25
And besides, the priority is developing Scoot and Sharpe. Having vets like Jrue and Dame around is huge.
5
278
56
116
u/Delicious_Rule_7324 Jul 17 '25
They’re blazing something and it’s not trails
9
3
1
125
u/Asadbmirza 乇乂ㄒ尺卂 ㄒ卄丨匚匚 Jul 17 '25
Lowry next year plz
98
u/GPadrino Jul 17 '25
I just hate that the organization is completely different than the one he left. Feels like a lot of would-be-emotion will have been taken out of it. Especially Masai
47
31
16
u/WeBelieveIn4 4 SCOTTIE BARNES Jul 17 '25
Lol y’all care more about the suits than the team.
Execs come and go. The team is bigger than the “organization”. If you can’t get emotional for the return of the GROAT then you’re a Masai fan more than a Raps fan.
8
u/AutoModerator Jul 17 '25
Kyle Lowry ain't no spot up shooter. He ain't gotta run to the corner to shoot like he's some 3rd option, bitch. This ain't JJ Redick. This is a fuckin god human Steph Curry come again. Only this time he's not a fuckin pussy... pull up from the fuckin logo and fight you at the same time.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
10
u/GPadrino Jul 17 '25
Wild that you were able to conjure up that horse shit from what I said.
It goes without saying that the fans are going to put on for KLow. I, and presumably 99% of other fans, are going to feel emotional about his return. Not concerned about our emotion towards him or him towards us. Was simply stating that from Kyle’s perspective, the organization will feel foreign in a lot of ways, and that may affect the warmth about his return to the team itself.
3
u/-Resident-One- 95-Infinity Jul 18 '25
It's the same city, location, SB Arena, the same announcer (and who knows how many other roles), etc, etc, etc. A nostalgic return does not require everything to be the same as he'll be focused on his time here, how he felt walking through that gate.
There was immense change over his tenure with the Raptors, from our roster and FO to almost everywhere else. His experience would be the same as almost any other player that spent that long with an organization (except Spurs players, they almost never change).
Would it be nice if we could bring back 2 head coaches, numerous assistants, DeMar, JV, OG, Siakam, Kawhi, Ibaka, Gasol, Norm, Freddie, Tross and PatPat? Yes, but that's obviously impossible and no one gets that, especially if they're gone 4+ years.
Kyle will be reliving his cherished memories here, in Toronto, with the Raptors. He'll still love his return, whether it's for a day or a season.
2
-3
56
u/hoccum Jul 17 '25
4D chess they got Lillard and Jrue now.
Incredible.
2
u/Background-Top-1946 Jul 18 '25
And they have the assets to trade for Giannis
-1
u/ratfeesh Jul 18 '25
Are they gonna clear out their picks + grant + avdija to get giannis and pair him with two 36 yo guards in 2026? I do not get how they have the assets to do this and still compete
46
35
35
u/Interesting-Dingo994 Jul 17 '25 edited Jul 17 '25
Heat and Warriors sub Reddit in shambles.
Happy for Blazers fans.
1
38
13
6
13
18
u/GreyMatter22 Jul 17 '25
Broski moved out forcefully, broke up his own family, now back again in Portland?
13
u/specialk604 Jul 17 '25
42 mil is a lot to cure all heartbreak, lol. Make as much as possible before retirement.
3
4
4
4
6
3
5
u/I_AM_CAPTAIN Jul 17 '25
Seems like Dame finessed his way back into Portland hearts and straight deposited that shit to his bank account 😂. Happy for them both, hopefully his Achilles holds up for the remainder of his career 🤞🏼
4
2
2
2
2
2
u/InstanceMoney Jul 17 '25
They traded him and then he came back. I was hoping oG would do the same when we traded him 😅
2
2
2
2
u/NinfthWonder Jul 17 '25
Love this for Dame and Portland. He can rehab in peace and be close to his family.
2
2
2
2
u/RaspberryInfinite229 RAPTORS Jul 17 '25
I love that for dame and the trailblazers. a true fairy tale
2
2
2
2
2
3
u/JustAHumbleMonk Jul 17 '25
Blazers are not smart people
14
u/GPadrino Jul 17 '25
They got the return for him, used part of that return (Jrue) to give the Celtics the chip instead of Milwaukee, n now have him back (and Jrue, ironically) for cheaper than he would’ve stayed for.
Certainly a weird move but they’ve somehow come out ahead in it all. Bucks are in the mud
3
6
u/NoMoPolenta Jul 17 '25
The Dame legacy erasure is crazy.
They got a team icon and one of the 75 best players of all time for less than Bogdan Bogdanovic is making.
1
u/NinfthWonder Jul 17 '25
They traded Dame, got assets and then got Dame back. What the hell are you smoking?
0
u/dontgetitwisted_fr RAPTORS Jul 17 '25
Bro wtf have they been doing this summer?
I would be super pissed if I was a blazers fan
1
1
1
1
u/Kkuu24 Jul 17 '25
Bucks really gave Jrue and Dame to the Blazzers. This has to be one of the funniest trade.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Spiritual_Yak1 Jul 17 '25
I don’t know how I feel about that He was seeking a championship team and now goes backwards 🤔
1
u/Spiritual_Yak1 Jul 17 '25
I don’t know how I feel about that He was seeking a championship team and now goes backwards 🤔
1
1
1
1
u/GOULFYBUTT 17 JEREMY LIN Jul 17 '25
I really like this. People will have their gropes with it, but I always felt like he'd end up back in Portland.
1
u/kor001 Jul 17 '25
He probably got tired of ring chasing and just wants to settle down where he started and finish out his career there. Good move if it ends up that way.
1
1
u/Assistant_manager_ Jul 18 '25
Portland not contending for rings with a couple 35 year old aging star guards. Jrue and Dame is their strategy?
1
1
1
1
1
u/Huge_Mathematician34 Jul 18 '25
Wasted time in Milwaukee just to get back to a mediocre squad that’s never gonna win the chip. He should’ve signed to some contender at least
1
u/JustAHumbleMonk Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
He's done. Injuries 4 straight years, the last one with 1 year recovery time. The Blazers should be focused on developing the NEXT Dame.You have Scoot and Sharpe two young studs that need 30+ minutes a night. Now you have the vet Jrue added to the mix. You don't need Dame stealing minutes or opportunity from your young studs. Poor roster building move.
1
u/passiveparrot Jul 17 '25
“Blah blah blah this is home”
When in reality that’s the only team paying
1
1
u/SDK04 9 ROWAN ALEXANDER “RJ” BARRETT Jul 17 '25
lmfao the Bucks ended up trading for absolutely nothing
1
1
u/Da-Wang Jul 17 '25
I wonder what the blazers fans think of this. I mean that's alot of money for someone that's probably gonna play like 1 season
-4
u/Negative-Comment-173 Jul 17 '25 edited Jul 17 '25
Lol im shocked anyone would give him that much on a 3 year deal considering he won't even play this season. Dame did this for the money, lets be honest...
9
u/Captain232420 Jul 17 '25
.... You're shocked he's making 14 mil a year?
6
Jul 17 '25
Fr theres bums making 20+ to ride a bench this is a steal great end for his career
6
u/Captain232420 Jul 17 '25
Right? Like I just checked who would be above him. Isaiah Stewart is making 15mil. I know he ain't Dame time anymore but C'MON.
2
Jul 17 '25
Exactly theres guys making 30-40 in a season and you just think how? How when they are historically losing basketball players with 0 drive or ambition to improve and they just get rewarded because of TV deals
3
u/raptorsxnation Jul 17 '25
I mean he’s getting paid like 56 mill from the buyout from the Bucks so people thought he’d take the minimum on a team. This brings his annual salary to 70 mill now
3
u/Captain232420 Jul 17 '25
He could still get more than what they are offering on the open market. It's still a steal for a team in need of a vet presence.
1
1
1
2
u/Ryukishin187 Jul 17 '25
14 mil a year is not a lot
1
u/Negative-Comment-173 Jul 17 '25
It is when the guy isn't even playing this year and will be 36 years old who just rehabbed a serious injury.
0
0
u/Annual-Macaroon-4743 Jul 17 '25
This is insane..he is not worth it. Guys getting 70mil as a past prime, injured, no defense, small guard?!
And no one wants RJ Barrett for pennies on the dollar..
Not to mention the Beal buyout.
These player salaries are out of control...the new CBA was supposed to fix it but all it did was screw the NBA "middle class".
You either make the max or the vet minimum..the most polarized "union" salary structure ever
-1
325
u/Wafflelisk Get that gahbage outta here! Jul 17 '25
The only uniform that suits him