Deandre Ayton headed to free agency after surprise Trail Blazers buyout

Deandre Ayton will be looking for a new team. Ayton and the Trail Blazers are finalizing a contract buyout in a surprise move, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported late Sunday night. The move comes following a season in which the 26-year-old averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 56.6 percent from the field. This had been his second season with the Trail Blazers after he was acquired in 2023 in a deal with the Suns as part of the three-way Damian Lillard trade. “This gives Ayton, a former No.1 overall pick who went to the NBA Finals with the Suns, the chance to receive a fresh opportunity as the Trail Blazers build around their depth of young centers,” Charania reported. Ayton had $35.6 million left on his contract, which would have expired next summer.The former first-overall pick is free to sign with any team now, though any idea of a reunion with the Suns doesn’t appear realistic. PHNX Sports’ Gerald Bourguet reported that the Suns have “zero interest” in bringing Ayton back. Ayton was selected with the No.

1 overall pick by the Suns in 2018 and was part of the Phoenix squad that helped the team reach the NBA Finals in 2021. The decision to part ways comes at a time when the Trail Blazers had a crowded center position after taking big men in the last two NBA drafts. Portland selected Donovan Clingan with the No.7 overall pick in 2024 and Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick in last week’s draft. Robert Williams III and Duop Reath are both under contract for the Trail Blazers, leaving things a bit murky for Ayton had he stayed....