Deandre Ayton to be free agent after Blazers buyout: Report

The Portland Trail Blazers are set to part ways with center Deandre Ayton, opting to buy out the final year of his contract, according to multiple reports on Sunday night.

Ayton, 26, was due to earn $35 million in the upcoming season - the last of a four-year, $132 million deal he originally signed with the Phoenix Suns.

The move will make Ayton an unrestricted free agent on Monday, where he is expected to draw interest from teams in need of frontcourt depth.


Portland’s decision comes as the team continues to rebuild with a younger core, having selected centers Donovan Clingan (No. 7 overall in 2024) and Yang Hansen (No. 16 in 2025) in consecutive drafts, while also retaining veteran big man Robert Williams III.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 40 starts last season before a left calf injury prematurely ended his campaign.

Over his six-year NBA career with the Suns and Trail Blazers, he has posted averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 398 regular-season games.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton earned All-Rookie First Team honors and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. He was acquired by Portland in the September 2023 blockbuster deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.