Deandre Ayton Leaving the Portland Trail Blazers Before 2025 NBA Free Agency

ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that center Deandre Ayton is having his contract bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers and will become an unrestricted free agent before the 2025 NBA Free Agency period officially begins. Ayton had $35.6 million remaining on his contract and had one year remaining, but the team decided to move on partially due to having rookie Yang Hansen and Donovan Clingan as their young centers as well as having Robert Williams III and Duop Reath under contract.

Despite being limited to 40 games last season, he was able to play well as he averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. Ayton has been showcasnig the ability to be a solid player as he is the first person since Dwight Howard to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in each of his first seven NBA seasons. With a major salary and not many teams having the cap space to absorb Ayton’s contract, the Trail Blazers are eating the final year of the deal and allowing Deandre Ayton to be an unresticted free agent.

Ayton is able to sign with any team and there is a massive need at the center position for a handful of teams right now. With Myles Turner, Clint Capela, and Moritz Wagner being the top centers available at the moment, it will be interesting to see the market that Deandre Ayton is able to get as he only turns 27 years old in July.