
Deandre Ayton headed to free agency after surprise Trail Blazers buyout
NY Post
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.

Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.












