[Shams] Lillard returns to the Blazers for 42M/3 Years

Fair point for Boston, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Golden State who was attached to him in the previous article had a 14 million Non Taxpayer MLE. That's about what he's getting annually from Portland.

"According to The Athletic, among the linked parties were the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and the Los Angeles Lakers, all of whom wanted to sign Lillard to a deal quickly."

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers...eltics and Lakers,in a limited physical state


"They still have the $14.1 million non-taxpayers mid-level exception, per Spotrac."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nb...out-251-million-all-star-imminent/ar-AA1I6XN7

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/07/how-teams-are-using-2025-26-mid-level-exceptions.html#:~:text=Denver Nuggets,Used: $5,500,000 (Guerschon Yabusele)


Other teams had a tax payer MLE and some which weren't contenders, or mid teams or bottom feeders had money to spend as well from what I'm seeing. So it was both and a choice imo.

 

Crazy amount of money for a dude that will most likely one back next season and be terrible due to age and injury and will end up retiring.

 

Lol

 

I guess he's too solid not to go back to Portland.

 

Blazers are lost.

In theory their roster looks like they could win enough games to be in the play-in. But what is the future direction? If their goal is to contend for the play-in every year, bravo, right on track.

They can then keep using pick 11-14 in the draft to make wild choices....

 

Their main goal is to do what is good for business: Put a product on the floor every year their local fans will enjoy supporting. Their fanbase loves having an NBA team in Portland and seems to be realistic about their chances to compete for championships.

 

Jody Allen is pretty wealthy actually.

Also Udoka is a Portland native, might not be surprised if he retires his coaching career with Portland.

 

Also Jody Allen doesn't own the Blazers directly and in theory won't benefit financially from the team. When her bother Paul Allen died he put in his will that the sports teams he owns should be sold and the proceeds be used for charity.

Since Paul left Jody in charge of his estate she has direct control over the Blazers. However any money earned by the team from operations or from selling remains in Paul Allen's estate, which he deemed should only be used for philanthropy.

 

Yes, but if you make yourself an employee - you can pay massive bonuses to yourself....just saying.

DD

 

!!!


Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is donating more than $240,000 to the city of Houston to renovate outdoor basketball courts in under-served areas that were ravaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Harden addressed the donation Saturday alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner as part of his JH-Town Weekend of charity. The announcement was made at Tuffly Park in north Houston, where over 100 neighborhood children also received new bicycles.

 

Looks like he’s wearing your wife’s jeans as well. Extra cool!!!11

 

But there was no indication GSW was willing to spend all their MLE in fact they are the only team who hasnt spent anything this offseason. Those other teams you mentioned dont have their full MLE available anymore.

Remember Lillard gonna be out for an entire year and prob wont be 100% Y2. For a team with a short window like GSW or Rockets its not a good idea to punt 1.5 yrs waiting for Dame time to get to 100%. For vet min sure why not but the entire MLE means a guy like DFS.