The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to trade Deandre Ayton at some point in the future, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Ayton, who is entering year three of a four-year, $133 million contract, doesn’t have much of a market right now, but the Blazers will be willing to make a deal for him, while not actively pushing him out.
“At some point, the Blazers and Ayton are expected to part ways, sources said, yet the former first-overall pick doesn’t command a market at this time. 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 is coming off a mediocre season with the Trail Blazers, where he averaged 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Ayton shot 57% from the field, which is slightly inefficient for a big man like him who plays almost exclusively in the interior. His performances didn’t lead to winning basketball, as the Trail Blazers missed the playoffs.
Ayton is not the only player seemingly on the trading block for the Trail Blazers. Both Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons are expected to be moved during the course of the next year, as the Trail Blazers look to commit themselves to a rebuild, building around Scoot Henderson, the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Which Team Would Deandre Ayton Be The Best Fit For?
Deandre Ayton may not be the superstar-level prospect he was first touted as when he was drafted first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but he is a solid big man who can play good defense in the interior. He could be valuable to some teams in the NBA that are looking to add depth at the center position.
As mentioned above, his massive contract makes him less valuable as a trade asset, especially as his numbers don’t justify the salary cap space he ends up taking on a team. So it is difficult to predict which team would take his contract on. Perhaps a team like the Rockets, who are looking to make a playoff push this year, could decide to take his contract and perhaps renegotiate with him in next year’s offseason.
Ayton has shown that he can play a big role on a championship-level team, as he was a key player for the Phoenix Suns during the 2021 run to the NBA Finals. While he struggled to play well against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ayton did have a great playoff run, proving that he was one of the most effective bigs in the West.
Since then, his career has been on the downturn. After a less-than-stellar end to his tenure with the Suns, Ayton was traded as part of the three-team Damian Lillard trade to the Trail Blazers, where he spent the previous season. He could find himself on a new team before the trade deadline next February.
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