The Portland Trail Blazers made the steal of the offseason, and nobody's talking about it because he's yet to even play a game. Damian Lillard remains sidelined as he continues a patient rehab approach for a torn Achilles, with expectations to be back at the start of the 2026-27 season. But if his recent 3-Point Contest win is any indication, Lillard is progressing well.
It was shocking to see him enter after not having touched the court, but once he was in, it wasn't surprising that he won. Lillard made NBA history as he's now tied with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for the most 3-Point Contests wins at three. He'll look to break the record next season.
But more importantly for the Blazers, Lillard is already proving his shooting is back -- at least in spot-up situations. Time will tell if he has the strength to pull off his patented stepback threes. But even in a worst-case scenario where Lillard is relegated to more of a catch-and-shoot role, that's still a tremendous addition for this team.
Damian Lillard's 3-Point Contest win just proved Blazers' $42 million deal is an absolute steal
It's impressive that the Blazers have managed to win 27 games this season, considering they rank so poorly in two key offensive categories: turnovers and three-point shooting. Dame will help address both of those weaknesses, giving Portland another veteran presence and a reliable floor spacer.
Given his age (35) and the severity of the injury, it's unreasonable to expect him to regain his previous role as Portland's primary offensive initiator. But even if he's a secondary option, Lillard will elevate this lackluster offense. His return could be just the thing to get the Blazers back into the postseason. And considering they signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal, that's an absolute steal.
It was a win-win scenario for Dame and the Blazers. He's currently their fourth-highest-paid player, making $14.1 million in a season he's not even playing (on top of the money the Milwaukee Bucks still owe him from waiving and stretching his remaining $113 million contract over five years). He's back in the Portland area, rehabbing close to family with a rare no-trade clause to guarantee he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
From the Blazers' perspective, this was essentially like a front-loaded contract. They pay $14.1 million up front to have Lillard on an incredibly team-friendly deal for the next two seasons. That's perfect timing as it aligns with their young core's ascension and readiness for a playoff run.
Sure, Dame will be 37 years old by the time his $14.1 million player option comes around in 2027-28. But shooting is typically the last thing to go for aging players. Fortunately, this recent 3-Point Contest victory just proved that Lillard's Achilles injury didn't get in the way of him being an elite shooter.
Considering his contract and how desperately the Blazers needed to address that roster weakness, this is the steal of the offseason. Other teams may not fully know it yet, but they just got a glimpse when Lillard knocked out all the other sharpshooters around the league yet again.