Pacers Show Interest in Deandre Ayton

The Indiana Pacers are reportedly showing interest in former Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton. The Blazers and Ayton agreed to a buyout earlier this week, with Ayton taking a $10 million discount on the $35.5 million salary he was owed in 2025-26 to leave the Blazers a year early. The Pacers, meanwhile, saw long-time center Myles Turner defect to the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving a vacancy in the middle.

In his latest substack [subscription required], NBA writer Marc Stein adds details:

Sources say the Pacers have, however, registered interest in Ayton. Don’t forget that the contract Ayton just terminated through his Blazers buyout was a four-year, $133 offer sheet that he originally signed with Indiana in 2022 as a Phoenix Suns restricted free agent.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 30.2 minutes per game over 40 appearances with the Blazers last season.

If Ayton signs with the Pacers at anything above a minimum level, the Blazers may receive a rebate on a portion of what they owe on his remaining, bought-out contract. The amount is not likely to be significant as the Pacers have little incentive to give Ayton money he’s already making with the Blazers from the buyout, nor does Ayton need to ask for same.