“Boston, Minnesota — dozens of other teams — had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks,” Charania said. “Next year, Damian Lillard will make $70 million between his Bucks and Blazers salaries. In the next two years, he’ll be at $140 million combined in salaries.”

The Boston Celtics were interested in Damian Lillard, but the nine-time All-Star decided on Thursday to return to where his NBA career started when he re-joined the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard made a name for himself in Portland,