Damian Lillard could finally be heading home, and the Warriors are wasting no time making their interest known.
Golden State has reportedly reached out to the nine-time All-Star after news broke that the Milwaukee Bucks will waive him to stretch his remaining contract, according to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.
“Of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors were one of those teams,” Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today.
“[Damian Lillard] is ecstatic. His agent told me this is an incredible opportunity for him. He gets to be a free agent two years early.” @MarcJSpears shares Dame’s reaction after being waived from the Bucks pic.twitter.com/tieAoWNacj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2025
Lillard, who grew up in Oakland and played college ball at nearby Weber State, has long been linked to the Bay Area.
Now, with his impending free agency and Milwaukee exit all but official, the door is open for a homecoming that Dub Nation has dreamed of for years.
After averaging 24.9 points per game across 58 appearances last season, Lillard’s future was thrown into question when he tore his Achilles during the Bucks’ first-round playoff series. But there’s growing optimism that he could return to the court much sooner than expected. “There’s some speculation that he (Lillard) could be back by the All-Star break,” Spears added.
The 34-year-old spent 11 seasons as the face of the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to Milwaukee in 2023.
Now, just two years later, he’s a free agent again with the rare luxury of choosing his next chapter without worrying about salary negotiations. Because of the stretch provision, Lillard will still receive his full salary, even if he signs for the league minimum elsewhere.
That could give the Warriors a real shot. They already have Stephen Curry under contract for two more seasons, but a pairing with Lillard, even in a sixth man or split-role capacity, would instantly elevate their title odds. And for Lillard, it’s a chance to chase a championship close to home.
