Surprise West Team Linked to Damian Lillard in Free Agency: Report

Despite many top NBA free agents already being signed, several solid players remain available, including star point guard Damian Lillard. The Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly waived Lillard earlier this summer to facilitate signing Myles Turner, a move that shocked the league. Although Lillard is expected to miss most or all of next season recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in last season's playoffs, he remains one of the premier free agents on the market.

Multiple teams have shown interest in Lillard, including his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers. However, a new unexpected Western Conference contender—the Golden State Warriors—has emerged as a potential destination. According to a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Warriors are among the teams atop Lillard’s list of preferences, partly due to his Oakland roots. While the pairing raises questions about his fit alongside Stephen Curry, it presents intriguing possibilities.

Should Lillard join Golden State, a backcourt partnership with Curry would form one of the NBA’s most potent offensive duos upon his return from injury. The 34-year-old is coming off a strong season, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.02 steals per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range.