Of all the transitions the Portland Trail Blazers made in the Summer of 2025, signing Damian Lillard to a three-year contract was by far the most publicly notable. Lillard is nothing short of a legend in Portland. Reacquiring him after trading him to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 was a public relations boon, nearly a miracle. Though Lillard will spend the year rehabbing an Achilles’ tendon tear, his return to action will be the most anticipated moment of the next two years in Rip City.

Cutting through all the goodwill and excitement, what will Lillard’s reappearance really mean for the Blazers, though? That question has been asked multiple times in the Blazer’s Edge Mailbag. We’ll tackle it today.

Dave,

Dame is back! The only thing I can liken it to is JR screaming Stone Cold’s return. By

See Full Page