Source: https://www.si.com/nba/suns/news/deandre-ayton-again-expected-traded
Former Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton is expected to be on the move once again.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Portland Trail Blazers – who acquired Ayton via trade last season from Phoenix – are expected to part ways with the former No. 1 overall pick:
“Ayton, who is in the third year of his four-year contract, will be making $34 million this upcoming year. He will make $35.5 million during the 2025-26 season, which is the final year of his contract with Portland. The Blazers still value Ayton as one of the veteran leaders of the team, sources said, which is why it is unlikely they will push for a trade involving the center right now.”
Ayton played in just 55 games for the Blazers last year – his 16.7 point per game mark was the lowest he had in three seasons.
It's not a surprise that the expensive Deandre Ayton will be on the move when the Blazers chose Donovan Clingan 7th in this most recent draft, especially with previous reports about the tardiness he exhibited earlier on in his Portland debut.
So…where will Dominayton end up this time? And what will the return be for the max contract center for a rebuilding Portland team?
by CazOnReddit
10 Comments
Come to Detroit, big fella.
the list of players who don’t “command a market at this time”
DeAndre Ayton
Jerami Grant
Anfernee Simons
Zach LaVine
Rui Hachimura
Gabe Vincent
D’Angelo Russell
who else?
With the way salaries are it seems someteam would want him for ‘only’ $35M and a 2 years.
He doesnt have a skillset that would make a contender want him and give up draft capital to get him. He could fit in a middle of the road team trying to make the playoffs but the return for portland is gonna be pretty minimal. While still young he doesnt seem super motivated to develop further and while his contract number is reasonable, he is overpaid. Not a great rim protector, turnover prone, no outside shot and misses a fair amount of games each year.
I could see Ayton on the Pelicans, since they need a center that ideally doesn’t work too close to the rim. That way Zion can do his thing. The question is just what the Pelicans can give up in return.
Things went from the Suns being in the Finals in 21, then up 3-2 on Dallas in WCF, then Ayton gets traded and now he’s about to leave again. So much for being a 1st overall pick.
I think this is less Ayton’s fault than the Blazers staff. Ayton was their 2nd leading scorer on the 5th most shot attempts per game, best FG% on the team, best rebounder, best stealer, best blocker.
Ayton was the Blazer’s best player and he ranked 9th in usage percentage.
The Blazers problem is they are focusing their development on shoot first guards who are bad defenders, bad passers, and have low shooting percentages.
Clingan will not be better than Ayton. Closest comp will probably be Walker Kessler. At least Clingan has so little offensive value, the Portland chuckers can keep on chucking.
The Knicks and Pelicans strike me as teams that should be in on Ayton .
In this new era of the 1st and 2nd apron penalties, these gigantic contracts for not great players are even more of a hindrance.
I think he’d make a nice backup for Jokic.