What the New York Knicks felt about Deandre Ayton after reaching out to Blazers over potential signing

New York Knicks’ conclusion on Deandre Ayton after running a background check

With Ayton lasting just two seasons on the Portland Trail Blazers, it has opened a series of backlash for the former No. 1 overall pick.

While some have labeled him a ‘talented doofus,’ others believe that the Lakers are set to have a disastrous season with Ayton on the floor.

On first look, it may seem that the Knicks dodged a bullet, but did they really?

“He’s obviously not on their radar now, but the Knicks also did some background work on Deandre Ayton. Some decision makers viewed Ayton as a good fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns,” Ian Begley of SNY wrote. 

He added: “Part of their background work included talking to the Trail Blazers about Ayton… the Blazers gave good feedback on Ayton to teams that called on him, which runs contrary to recent reports painting Ayton in a negative light.

“The Knicks received similar positive feedback from Portland about Ayton’s leadership with some of the younger Blazers.”

This is contradictory to the general consensus around Ayton’s reputation in the locker room. If Begley’s report is correct, it would mean that the Lakers finally have a talented, starting-caliber center.

New York Knicks signed Guerschon Yabusele instead of Deandre Ayton

Losing out on Ayton is not as big of a blow for the Knicks, thanks to the arrival of Guerschon Yabusele from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 29-year-old averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the 76ers last season while shooting a solid 50.1% from the field and 38.0% from the three-point line.

Moreover, the Knicks signed him for just $12 million over two years. As a result, the Knicks are now backed for success during the 2025-26 season.