The NBA landscape is set for a significant shift as center Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, making him an unrestricted free agent. The move, reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday, June 29, 2025, opens up new possibilities for the 26-year-old big man and provides the Trail Blazers with increased roster flexibility.
Ayton, who will turn 27 next month, had approximately $35.6 million remaining on his contract, which was originally set to expire in the summer of 2026. Sources close to the situation indicated that Ayton and his representatives initiated discussions with the Blazers regarding a buyout, driven by his desire to join a team in a “winning situation.” This strategic timing allows Ayton to enter the free-agent market without the usual waiver restrictions that would typically prevent a player with his contract size from signing with a team in the second salary cap apron during the regular season, as clarified by ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
For the Portland Trail Blazers, this buyout addresses a crowded frontcourt. The team recently added two promising young centers in last week’s draft with Yang Hansen (No. 16 pick) and last year’s No. 7 pick, Donovan Clingan. With veteran bigs Robert Williams III and Duop Reath also under contract, the decision to part ways with Ayton streamlines their roster and provides clearer opportunities for their developing talent.
Ayton’s tenure in Portland began in September 2023, when he was acquired from the Phoenix Suns as part of the three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. In his two seasons with the Trail Blazers, Ayton played in 95 out of a possible 164 games. This includes 40 games in the most recent 2024-25 season, which was the second-fewest of his career. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, shooting 56.6% from the field, according to ESPN stats and Basketball-Reference. His time in Portland also saw him battle a calf injury, which sidelined him for a significant portion of the latter half of the 2024-25 season.
Prior to his move to Portland, Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He spent five seasons with the Suns, where he was named to the 2018-19 All-Rookie Team and played a pivotal role in their run to the 2021 NBA Finals. Over his five seasons in Phoenix, he averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 59.7% from the field. Despite his statistical production, questions about his consistency occasionally arose, with former Suns owner Mat Ishbia noting that Jusuf Nurkic, acquired in the Lillard trade, was a better fit for the team at the time.
A testament to his consistent rebounding and scoring, Ayton is the first player since Dwight Howard (whose career began in 2004-05) to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in each of his first seven NBA seasons. He joins an elite group of active players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic, who have maintained a 10-point, 10-rebound average over the past seven campaigns.
As Deandre Ayton now enters the open market, his unique skill set as a 7-foot, 252-pound center with a proven ability to secure double-doubles will undoubtedly attract interest from numerous NBA teams looking to bolster their frontcourt for a winning push. His availability marks one of the most intriguing developments in the current NBA offseason.
