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The Portland Trail Blazers made a big and surprising move before free agency begins, as they came to an agreement on a buyout with one of their centers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
“Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Sudden addition to the free-agent market. 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 continued.
It will be interesting to see what Ayton's market will be as free agency is on the way.
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There were many questions on how the Blazers would handle their center rotation, especially after drafting Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick in the NBA Draft. Not many people expected Yang to go that quickly in the draft, but the Blazers believed in his talent. In his two seasons with the Chinese Basketball Association, Yang averaged 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks while shooting 56.9 percent from the field.
The Blazers had four centers on the roster, which included Ayton, Donovan Clingan, and Robert Williams III. There was a good chance someone would be on the outside looking in, and it was Ayton whom the Blazers decided to let go.
Ayton's game has been under a microscope over the past few seasons, and it started during his final season with the Phoenix Suns. Since coming to the Trail Blazers, Ayton hadn't been available to play much, which gave other players on the team a chance to get minutes.
In Clingan's rookie season last year, he took advantage of the opportunity, and he averaged 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in 67 games.
Ayton will most likely have a list of suitors going after him, and he may be signed sooner rather than later.
