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Former Suns No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton agrees to buyout with Trail Blazers

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 8:21 AM ET

The only No. 1 overall pick by the Phoenix Suns franchise in DeAndre Ayton had surprising news surrounding him, as the 26-year-old and the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a contract buyout. Ayton was in the final year of his four-year, $132.9 million contract that he initial signed in Phoenix before traded the following offseason to Portland. Ayton will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time of his career, after a hectic restricted free agency back in 2022.

Ayton’s complicated history with Suns:

The former Arizona Wildcats center was the unanimously the projected top pick in the 2018 draft and had a promising rookie season with the franchise, averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. Ayton’s arrival began the Valley Boyz saga of the team with Kelly Oubre, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and more. The squad has a sensational undefeated run in the NBA bubble, that propelled them to an NBA Finals run in the 2020-2021 season.

Ayton and the Suns would fall two games shorts of a NBA title, which began the descent the big man’s relationship with the franchise. When entering NBA free agency, Phoenix and Ayton couldn’t come close to a number, irritating the seven-footer. Ayton did eventually get a massive offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers, which the Suns matched but the damage to the relationship was already done.

After a failed midseason trade for 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant in 2023, Phoenix was eliminated in the second round to the eventual NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. Ayton had much of the blame thrown at him for his lack of effort against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Owner Mat Ishbia and the front office needed to offload money to create more flexibility with the roster, and Ayton was the odd man out being sent to the Trail Blazers for Jusuf Nurkic.

In his two seasons with Portland, Ayton has only appeared in 95 games recording 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds. The franchise drafted center Donovan Clingan in the 2024 NBA draft and then drafted another big man in Yang Hansen 16th overall this year, spelling the eventual exit for Ayton.

Ayton is entering his eight year in the league, and still hasn’t reached the hype level of his pre-draft comparisons. Many teams will be interested in the big man, with the Los Angeles Lakers being a likely contender. Even if the Suns were in a market for a center, which is unlikely after the 2025 draft, the relationship between Ayton and the front office/fans is too far gone between any thought of a reunion.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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