Portland center Deandre Ayton is finalizing a buyout with the Trail Blazers and will become a free agent, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Sunday.
Ayton is due $35.5 million next season on the final year of a four-year $133 million contract he originally signed with the Phoenix Suns. The terms of his buyout were not initially reported.
If Ayton, indeed, is bought out, he’ll become one of the top free agents in a class that’s lacking marquee names. Teams are permitted to start negotiating with pending free agents beginning Monday.
Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DNYcNqRvkW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025