Deandre Ayton Finalizing Contract Buyout With Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are finalizing a contract buyout with center Deandre Ayton, ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported.

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.

Ayton, 26, had one year and $35.6 remaining on his contract with the Trail Blazers. He was set to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, but now he’ll head to the free agency market a year early.

In the 2023 offseason, the former No. 1 overall pick was hailed as the centerpiece player acquired by Portland in the three-team trade between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks that ended Damian Lillard’s legendary tenure in Rip City.

During his past two seasons in Portland, the 7-foot center averaged 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks per game through 95 appearances.

The summer after acquiring Ayton, the Blazers drafted 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick in 2024. Then this past week, Portland picked another rookie center by taking 7-foot-1 big man Yang Hansen with the No. 16 overall pick. The back-to-back first-round selection crowded the front-court rotation with five centers — Ayton, Clingan, Hansen, Robert Williams III and Duop Reath.

Ayton’s buyout will now clear up some of that roster space and playing time.

UPDATE: In his write-up for ESPN, Charania added this intel about the buyout news:

Ayton and his representatives approached the Blazers about a buyout and Ayton wanting to play in a winning situation, sources said.