The Path Blazers have reached an settlement on a contract buyout with veteran middle Deandre Ayton, reviews ESPN’s Shams Charania (through Twitter).
Ayton had been about to enter the ultimate season of a four-year, maximum-salary contract, which was set to pay him $35.5MM in 2025/26. The quantity he’s giving up within the buyout has not but been reported.
The Blazers have drafted facilities within the first spherical of each 2024 (Donovan Clingan) and 2025 (Hansen Yang) and can use this chance to clear rotation minutes for his or her younger massive males. Portland additionally nonetheless has Robert Williams and Duop Reath underneath contract, although Williams has solely performed 61 video games over the past three seasons resulting from well being points.
Ayton averaged 14.4 factors and 10.2 rebounds, each of which have been tied for profession lows, in 30.2 minutes per night time this previous season. He solely made 40 appearances whereas coping with a calf pressure that stored him out of the lineup for a lot of the second half of the season.
As soon as he clears waivers, Ayton will turn into an unrestricted free agent and could have the flexibility to signal with any NBA staff. The Collective Bargaining Settlement features a rule prohibiting groups working above both tax apron from signing a waived participant who had been incomes greater than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, however that restriction solely applies in the course of the common season.
Ayton joins a free agent middle group headlined by Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Al Horford. The Lakers are the staff most persistently linked to free agent facilities and can possible turn into a prime staff to observe for Ayton.
One staff that won’t be pursuing a partnership with Ayton is Phoenix, in keeping with Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports activities. Bourguet reviews, through Twitter, that the Suns have no real interest in a reunion with their 2018 first general choose, who helped them attain the 2021 NBA Finals.
