DeAndre Ayton, the former NFL draft player (2018) number 1 pick, will become a free agent as soon as he has agreed with a deal that he will buy the contract with Portland Trail Blazers. The trade terminates Ayton’s short and turbulent career in Portland and marks a new beginning to the franchise, still in rebuilding mode, as well as to the 26-year-old center.
In his 4 year contract worth 133 million dollars, Ayton still had one year to play and had been contracted for approximately 35.6 million dollars in the following season. Instead of pursuing a trade that had failed to materialize, the Trail Blazers opted to give a buyout, enabling Ayton to join any club, without the usual limit of salary cap that usually accompanied the regular season transfer.
The Reason the Buyout Occurred Now
Based on reports by several sources, Portland was not the only party involved that initiated the buyout. Ayton and his representatives contacted the team to discuss the possibility of a release strategy in which he would be interested in joining a better competing team. Playing in rebuilding youthful Trail Blazers, Ayton would have preferred to compete in the title race at a time, which did not match Portland.
Moreover, there were growing congestions on the frontcourt of Portland. The draft had added the very promising big man Yang Hansen No. 16 overall in 2025, to the team that also already had big man Donovan Clingan, who had been selected at No. 7 in 2024. The organization had to create spaces in which playing time and developing potential should be available because there are other centers, such as Robert Williams III and Duop Reath who are now signed to the center.
Ayton Portland Time
In September 2023, Ayton was traded to the Blazers in the 3-team trade that had sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Ayton only played 40 games in the lone season he played with Portland, since different injuries and line changes kept him off the court. His stats in his first stint as a pro averaged up to 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of 56.6 percent.
His career in Portland did not pick up, although it was good in the sense of stats. He was not available due to injuries and concerns regarding both his consistency and motor that trailed him since his Phoenix days remained valid. Nonetheless, Ayton was one of just four NBA players to record 10-plus points and 10-plus rebounds per game in all seven of the previous seasons list that consists of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic.
The Next Steps of Ayton?
The buyout is completed, so DeAndre Ayton can now commit to any franchise team in the NBA. He has a relatively high value because of his age, size, and statistical consistency, although some teams are cautious of his previous track record leading matches in the playoff atmosphere. Ayton reportedly has been scouting landing destinations where he can join a lineup in the playoff chase, though it has been on either a rotational or starting basis, subject to fit and pay flexibility.
The second tier of the NBA, which does not allow high-spending organizations to obtain costly playoffs, also does not exist, so Ayton can become a member of such organizations as the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, or Los Angeles Lakers, provided both sides are interested.
Portland- Focus on the Future
In the case of the Trail Blazers, DeAndre Ayton leaving is a bigger plan to embrace their youth. The Blazers are focused on developing and chemistry rather than immediate victories, given that they have some of the best prospects such as Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Clingan, and Hansen. Although it will entail a financial blow to release Ayton, it will provide the team with more opportunities to invest in the developing players and possible future trades.
The trade also frees up cap room that would enable the Blazers to take smaller free-agent contracts or enable sign-and-trade opportunities in the offseason.
