Damian Lillard scores 23 in preseason finale

Conflicting offseason reports noted that Morant could come off the bench, but the Blazers will play the pair of superstar guards together in Wednesday’s season opener against the Suns. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to this pairing and keep in mind that Portland may experiment with different lineups throughout the season.

Damian Lillard didn’t play in Monday’s exhibition, and his absence opened a starting spot for Holiday. Like the other starters, the veteran guard was done at halftime. The move to the bench lowers Holiday’s fantasy ceiling considerably, giving managers no reason to use a top-100 pick on him. However, he should play enough to provide reliable late-round value in most leagues.

Appearing in a game for the first time since the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Lillard looked sharp in his 19 minutes. Coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon, he started alongside newcomer Ja Morant and did most of his work off the ball. Lillard will be a key figure for the Trail Blazers this season, but his assist production may take a slight hit with Morant’s arrival. That said, Lillard simply being on the court is a win for fantasy managers and basketball in general.

Lillard, who did not play last season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, was cleared to resume 5-on-5 in late April, so his statement at Trail Blazers media day is not a surprise. Lillard said that he’s “operating like I wasn’t hurt,” which is music to the ears of fantasy managers. However, one concern as he begins his second stint in Portland is the team’s perimeter depth. The Trail Blazers acquired Ja Morant from Memphis, and they also have holdovers Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. That may lead to Lillard’s workload being managed early in the season, potentially lowering his fantasy ceiling.

Lillard ruptured his Achilles tendon during last season’s playoffs, missing the entire 2025-26 campaign as a result. The veteran guard, who turns 36 in July, appears to be on track to return to action next season, as he has resumed playing 5-on-5. Lillard also noted on Thursday that, while nothing was ever said about him possibly playing this season, he did think about the possibility. With Lillard back in the fold, the Trail Blazers should be in a position to take a step forward after earning the No. 7 seed in this year’s playoffs.

Lillard’s score of 29 in the final round was enough to beat Kon Knueppel, who had 17, and Devin Booker, who had 27. The 35-year-old point guard won the three-point contest for the third time in his career, tying Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for most in NBA history. Lillard is out for the season after rupturing his left Achilles during last year’s playoffs.

Holiday, acquired from the Celtics during the offseason, only played 17 minutes in his unofficial Trail Blazers’ debut. The veteran guard did not shoot the ball well, but he was solid otherwise, making plays for others and committing just one turnover on the night. With Scoot Henderson likely to miss the start of the regular season with a torn left hamstring and Damian Lillard out for the season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, Holiday will have to take on point guard duties for the foreseeable future. After seeing his fantasy value take a hit in Boston last season, Holiday will be worth the investment in Portland.

Lillard ruptured his left Achilles tendon during the Bucks’ first-round series against the Pacers. Planning on doing his rehab in Portland, the guard agreed to a multi-year deal with the Trail Blazers after Milwaukee bought out his contract. Lillard’s declaration that he doesn’t plan on attempting to play this season is unsurprising, but there had been no official declaration from him or the team. With his comments on Monday, fantasy managers don’t need to consider stashing Lillard with a late-round pick. This will be a critical season for Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, as both will take on significant roles with Lillard sidelined and Anfernee Simons now a member of the Celtics.

The contract includes a player option in 2027. Lillard now will have a 2025-26 set salary of $70M between his Portland and Milwaukee deals, and a salary of $141M over the next two years, according to Charania. The 35-year-old point guard is heading back to where his career began when the Trail Blazers selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Lillard is unlikely to play much if at all this season as he recovers from Achilles surgery, but looks to finish his career right where he started it. The deal includes a no-trade clause.

The Bucks chose to waive and stretch Lillard, who is likely to miss all of next season as he recovers from an Achilles tear. Milwaukee is able to stretch the $113 million still owed to Lillard over five seasons. This was a necessary move for the team to have the requisite space to sign free agent center Myles Turner. The Bucks had to get creative to give their roster an immediate upgrade. Lillard’s free-agent market will be a bit of a mystery given the fact that he’s unlikely to play much — if at all — this season. It’s possible we’ve seen the last of him as a major fantasy option.