Deandre Ayton Inches Closer to Shocking NBA Shift as Buyout with Trail Blazers Nears Completion

Deandre Ayton, once the glittering top pick of the 2018 NBA draft, is now on the cusp of parting ways with the Portland Trail Blazers as he finalizes a buyout deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. If he clears waivers by Wednesday, Ayton will hit the free-agent market at a time when the pool of elite centers is surprisingly shallow—a rare moment for teams in need of a traditional big man to make a move. Despite falling short of All-Star status over his seven NBA seasons, Ayton’s solid post presence and rebounding skills make him a tantalizing option for franchises desperate to bolster their interior defense and scoring. With Portland set on a youth-driven direction—locking down players like Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III and adding rookie Yang Hansen—they’re ready to move on from Ayton’s hefty .5 million final contract year. As teams like the Lakers and Hornets look to fill glaring gaps in their frontcourt, Ayton’s next chapter promises to be one of the more intriguing free-agent sagas this offseason. LEARN MOREAdvertisementAyton, 26, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft class that also featured Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young. Unlike some of his draft-class counterparts, Ayton has not lived up to the hype.There are several teams in search of help in the post, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers, whose lack of defensive presence near the rim was exposed in a one-sided, first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A Charlotte Hornets team that recently traded Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic could also be in the market for a center.

There are several teams in search of help in the post, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers, whose lack of defensive presence near the rim was exposed in a one-sided, first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A Charlotte Hornets team that recently traded Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic could also be in the market for a center.

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