According to Bill Oram (OregonLive) Portland has not entirely ruled out a surprising possibility: a potential return of its franchise leader during this postseason.

An internal source described the situation with caution:

And added:

Another source close to the team said:

At this stage, however, his rehab process is not yet advanced: Lillard has not resumed contact work or full-court play. A situation that makes a short-term return highly complicated.

A Difficult Scenario, But Not Impossible

The idea of seeing Damian Lillard back on the court in the NBA Playoffs remains more of a possibility than a probability. Even if his impact upon return would likely be limited, his mere presence could shift the balance in an already competitive series.

With a young and improving Portland roster, his potential comeback would represent a mental boost even before a technical one.