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Winners, Losers from Damian Lillard’s return to Portland Trail Blazers

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Within minutes of Damian Lillard’s shocking release by the Milwaukee Bucks this summer, speculation about a landing spot began. The first names to come up were places he had expressed interest in previously — Portland and Miami — but not long after Golden State, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers emerged as teams with interest. This was expected to be a long, slow process, during which Lillard would spend time recovering from his torn Achilles and considering his options.

It didn’t take long — Lillard is returning to Portland on a three-year, $42 million contract.

That starts with him making $14 million from Portland this season — on top of the $54.1 million Milwaukee bought him out of. That’s $68 million in this season, which he will miss most — and most likely all — of recovering.

Let’s break down the winners and losers from this move — and it’s pretty much all winners.

WINNER: Trail Blazers fans/basketball fans

This is an emotionally satisfying result.

Lillard could have spent this season rehabbing, watching how the league played out, then signed where he thought he had the best chance to chase a ring. Or, he could have waited and started a bidding war next summer to see who would pay him the most money and chased the almighty dollar.

Instead, he chose to follow his heart — he didn’t wait and he chose the city he loves and that his family calls home, the franchise where he will go down as the greatest player in its history (all due respect to Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler). This is just good for sports.

It’s been a good summer for Blazers fans. The franchise is being sold, a long overdue move. Adam Silver stated in Las Vegas this week that the league prefers not to see the team relocate cities (a polite way of saying it’s not going anywhere), and the new owners will need to build a new arena. They drafted Yang Hansen, who may or may not pan out, but is infectious to watch.

And now Damian Lillard is coming home.

WINNER: Damian Lillard

When Damian Lillard was first traded to Milwaukee he was excited — he got to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo on a contender. This was an opportunity for him to cement his legacy with a ring.

Turns out, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Lillard learned that the hard way and struggled to adjust to life away from his family, which remained in Portland.

Milwaukee cutting Lillard lose means he had total control of whatever happened next: He could go where he wanted, when he wanted, and for as much money as he could get in the process. He got to set the priorities.

Portland was the priority. Lillard gets what he wants, and at essentially the mid-level exception, even for the year he is rehabbing. That’s a fair price.

WINNER: Portland’s Young Stars

Mentoring young players matters. As talented as someone entering the league might be, having a professional organization and veteran presence in the locker room that shows them how to be an NBA player matters.

Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, Yang Hansen and the rest of the young Blazers now have Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday in the locker room — two high-level, consummate pros.

This is only good for Portland in the long run.

LOSERS: Teams that struck out on Lillard

These teams lost out, but it’s not fair to call them losers — they were never going to win this sweepstakes.

Still, the Miami Heat had flirted with Lillard going back to his trade out of Portland, he would have been a great fit next season. Boston reportedly showed interest, with Jayson Tatum handling the recruiting himself. It’s not hard to imagine Tatum’s pitch: “We know what it takes to get a ring, with your shooting and playmaking, when we reload in a year you can get your ring.”

The Warriors were reportedly interested, and a backcourt featuring Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard would be fearsome. The Lakers reportedly showed interest, and Lillard, as a shooter and secondary shot creator alongside Luka Doncic in a year, would have been an interesting addition (and Doncic and Lillard would have formed the most clutch team in league history).

All of those teams had good cases to make. But Portland… there’s no place like home.





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Barbra Streisand among stars to pay tribute to Robert Redford: ‘One of the finest actors ever’ | Robert Redford

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Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Robert Redford, calling him “one of the finest actors ever”.

The entertainer shared a statement after her co-star in The Way We Were died at the age of 89 on Tuesday. His publicist wrote that he died “at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved”.

On Instagram, Streisand reminisced about their time together while making the 1973 hit.

“Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy,” she wrote. “We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie. Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Romantic drama The Way We Were was a critical and commercial hit with Streisand’s theme song also becoming a chart hit and receiving an Oscar nomination.

Streisand’s tribute joins a long list from Hollywood and beyond after Redford’s death. Meryl Streep, who starred with him in Out of Africa and Lions for Lambs, wrote: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”

Jane Fonda, who starred with him in four movies including Barefoot in the Park, said in a statement: “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”

“Bob was a unique artist, in front of and behind the camera … and he gave the world of American cinema something irreplaceable and lasting with Sundance,” said film-maker Martin Scorsese, who Redford directed in his film Quiz Show. “It saddens me to know that I won’t be seeing him again. And I’ll never forget my time with him.”

Ethan Hawke remembered him as “our ultimate champion of independent film, relentless advocate for authentic storytelling and fiercely passionate environmentalist”, while Leonardo DiCaprio told Associated Press that Redford’s death was “a huge loss”.

“Not only was he an incredible actor — we all know his work — but his ability, as a director too, films like Quiz Show,” he said. “He was one of the first guys to do political thrillers – Three Days of the Condor, All the President’s Men … he paved the way for films like this but more so than anything, he was a staunch environmental leader and was a member of the NRDC, like me, and fought for Indigenous rights — the list goes on and on. We lost a legend today.”

Morgan Freeman wrote on Instagram: “There are certain people you know that you’re going to click with. After working with Robert Redford on Brubaker in 1980, we instantly became friends. Working with him again in An Unfinished Life was a dream come true. Rest peacefully, my friend.”

Journalist Bob Woodward, who Redford played in All the President’s Men, wrote on Instagram, “He will be remembered as one of the greatest storytellers in our country’s history. He elevated stories beyond mainstream. He not only cared about the environment, but he took all conceivable actions to protect it.”

Samuel L Jackson wrote on Instagram: “It was a dream come true to work on screen with Mr Redford. Sometimes your heroes don’t disappoint and truly are as great as you imagined.”

Hillary Clinton shared a picture of her with Redford, writing: “He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers. A true American icon.”

Scarlett Johansson, who starred in The Horse Whisperer, a drama directed by and starring Redford looked back on their time together. “He was patient and warm and kind,” she said. “Bob taught me what acting could be, and it was from his generosity and patience that I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft. That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance, a place where film-makers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent. Bob, thank you for your belief in me and for your grace and guidance.”

He was also described by Ron Howard as an “artistic game changer”.

Redford was known for his many films as an actor, including The Sting, All the President’s Men and Spy Game, but also played a key role in the Sundance film festival, with many seeing him as a pioneer of US independent cinema.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford,” a Sundance statement read. “Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the US and around the world.”

Robert Redford: one of Hollywood’s defining stars – video obituary





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Marvel Studios Remembers Robert Redford

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Marvel Studios is saddened to learn of the passing of Hollywood icon Robert Redford. A legendary performer and a champion of film, Redford passed away Sept. 16 at the age of 89.

Redford joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, starring as U.S. government leader and secret Hydra operative Alexander Pierce. Redford’s performance transformed Pierce into one of Marvel’s most memorable on-screen antagonists, imbuing the role with charm and gravitas as only he could. The film drew inspiration from the iconic paranoid thrillers of the 1970s, a genre that Redford anchored with his pioneering performances in films like Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men.

Redford later returned to the MCU and made his final on-screen film appearance in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, reprising his role as Pierce.

With his decade-spanning career, Redford helped shape modern cinema, delivering powerful performances in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Barefoot in the Park, and more. He also achieved success as a producer and director, winning an Academy Award for his directorial debut, 1980’s Ordinary People.

Off screen, Redford was a passionate environmental advocate and a crusader for independent film, founding the legendary Sundance Institute and film festival.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Robert Redford — a true legend whose acting and directing inspired us throughout our careers,” said Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Redford in both The Winter Soldier and Endgame. “His legacy will live on through his extraordinary films, his incredible performances, his tireless activism, and the profound influence that Sundance has had on the trajectory of the industry, and the lives of thousands of filmmakers. There are very few people who have impacted modern storytelling as significantly as Robert … and we are deeply grateful for our time with him.”

Redford leaves an extraordinary legacy, and all of us at Marvel are honored that he shared his immense talents with us. Our condolences are with his family and friends. 





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Raleigh hits HRs No. 55, 56 to pass Mantle, tie Mariners’ mark

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cal Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle’s record for homers by a switch-hitter and tied the Mariners record set by Ken Griffey Jr. when the Seattle star hit his 55th and 56th of the season in consecutive at-bats against the Royals on Tuesday night.

Raleigh doubled in his first at-bat on a hot, humid night in Kansas City. He came up again in the third inning and, batting left-handed against Michael Wacha, fouled off a changeup and took a sinker for a ball before Raleigh sent a hanging curveball 419 feet over the right-field fence for his 55th home run of the season.

That broke the switch-hitter mark set by the Yankees star in 1961, which Raleigh had tied against the Angels on Sunday.

The All-Star catcher was back up in the fourth inning Tuesday night. This time, batting right-handed against left-hander Daniel Lynch IV, Raleigh sent the first pitch he saw 425 feet to straightaway center for his 56th homer.

Griffey set the Mariners record when he hit 56 homers during the 1997 season and matched the mark the following year.

After both home runs, Raleigh got a standing ovation from a small group of Mariners fans behind the visiting dugout at Kauffman Stadium. Many Royals fans, who had turned out to watch a club fading from playoff contention, also applauded the home runs. It was Raleigh’s 20th career multihomer game and his 10th this season, the most in a single season by a catcher in MLB history.

There have only been nine 60-homer seasons in the majors. Aaron Judge had the last when he hit 62 for the Yankees in 2022, an American League record. Raleigh would need to hit six more home runs over the next 11 games to tie Judge’s record.

The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.





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