NBA Trade Rumors: Deandre Ayton “Expected to be Traded” by Trail Blazers

When the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Deandre Ayton in a sign-and-trade as part of the huge trade that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee last year, Portland thought it was getting its center of the future. After all, Ayton was the former No. 1 overall pick and was still only 25.

But now, a year later, as the Trail Blazers look to tear things down even more, it sounds like Ayton will be on the move again.

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to eventually trade Deandre Ayton, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“At some point, the Blazers and Ayton are expected to part ways, sources said, yet the former first overall pick doesn't command a market at this time.” pic.twitter.com/rxA2Kp7VPT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 4, 2024

Insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that, “At some point, the Blazers and Ayton are expected to part ways, sources said, yet the former first overall pick doesn't command a market at this time.”

Expanding on Ayton's lack of a trade market, Siegel wrote that the 7-footer "wouldn’t necessarily be a positive asset for playoff-contending teams to target due to the tax implications that would come with acquiring him. Not to mention, Ayton is more of a traditional big man who tends to play in the paint and does not possess much of a perimeter game.”

Ayton is smack in the middle of a 4-year, $133 million contract, and is owed $34 million this coming season, and $35 million the year after that. He averaged 16.7 points and 11.1 rebounds in his first year in Portland this past season, right around his career marks. And while his free-throw percentage soared to its highest level yet, at 82.3%, he only got to the line 1.4 times per game, well below his career average of 2.4 (also not very impressive for a big man who makes his living down low).

Overall, his impact on a young, rebuilding team was not overly impactful, as the Blazers finished with the worst record in the Western Conference last season, at 21-61.

The team is also reportedly looking to trade Jerami Grant and/or Anfernee Simons.