The Portland Trail Blazers got franchise icon Damian Lillard to sign a new contract with the team as he returns to his roots. Lillard's family is based in Port

Teams are only allowed to stretch a contract as long as the money doesn't take up 15% of the cap, and Lillard's $22.5 million total is just under that threshold in 2025-26.

Injuries stood in the way both years as Antetokounmpo and Lillard battled ailments in the playoffs. The latter tore his Achilles tendon this past postseason, which brought an end to his time in Milwaukee and led to a reunion with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Player movement comes to a halt aside from a few restricted free-agency situations playing out, the best young players only take the court for a couple of games (if that), and the entire league unwinds from a long year.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said it was a "luxury" to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo during an interview with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reflecting on his two years with the Milwaukee Bucks.