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LaMarcus Aldridge might not return, but Damian Lillard isn't going anywhere.
The Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement with the star point guard on a five-year maximum extension worth between $125 million and $129 million, Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears reports. The deal will kick in at the start of 2016-17.
Blazers @Dame_Lillard on his new max contract to Yahoo. pic.twitter.com/sglXmmLuuO
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 2, 2015
His deal will also include a trade kicker, which is a clause that increases a player's salary if they end up getting traded.
Lillard has taken the league by storm since being drafted sixth overall in 2012 out of little-known Weber State. Lillard has two All-Star appearances and a third-team All-NBA honor to his name, in addition to career averages of 20.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Not to be overlooked, Lillard has also stayed remarkably healthy, as he's managed to suit up in every game of his career to date. He's an elite scoring guard, with deep 3-point range, great court vision, and the athleticism to finish strong in the lane. Defensive shortcomings aside, locking Lillard up to an extension was a no-brainer.
Moreover, Lillard helped usher in a new era of Blazers basketball. After losing Brandon Roy and Greg Oden to injuries, Portland found itself stuck in the mud. With the addition of Lillard, the Trail Blazers have won a total of 105 games over the last two seasons.
In signing Lillard to a five-year, rookie-scale extension, the Trail Blazers have made Lillard their designated player. Lillard is slated to earn 25 percent of the salary cap based on next year's cap figure.
However, that percentage could jump up to 30 percent of the cap should Lillard qualify for the Derrick Rose Rule. (Lillard would need to make yet another appearance on the All-NBA team or be named as the league's MVP next season to meet the requirements.)
A five-year extension on top of his rookie deal would encompass the majority of Lillard's prime seasons. Lillard will be 25 when his deal kicks in.
