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Former first overall selection Deandre Ayton has officially reached an agreement for a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, as announced by the team early Monday.
The seasoned center now emerges as an unexpected addition to a free agent pool that has been further depleted by recent re-signings. At 26 years old, Ayton is coming off what many consider the least productive season of his career, averaging a career-low of 14.4 points per game while appearing in only 40 contests with Portland last season.
Thank you for everything, DA. We appreciate your contributions during your time in Rip City ❤️ pic.twitter.com/al1hs1tv8K
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 30, 2025
As the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton has consistently averaged over 10 rebounds per game throughout his seven seasons in the league. He played a pivotal role for his original team, the Phoenix Suns, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 2021, where they were defeated by the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, in six games.
Ayton was traded to Portland two seasons later, following a year in which he signed a max contract offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers that the Suns matched. Despite Ayton’s arrival, the Trail Blazers have not qualified for the playoffs since 2021.
His exit underscores Portland’s shift towards developing their homegrown lottery selections Scoot Henderson (third overall, 2023), Shaedon Sharpe (seventh overall, 2022), and Donovan Clingan (seventh overall, 2024). Additionally, the Blazers are reportedly on the verge of acquiring veteran guard Jrue Holiday in a trade with Boston.
