It has been reported that the Portland Trail Blazers will be expected to trade star center Deandre Ayton sometime this upcoming season, per Brett Siegel. However, Ayton doesn’t have any interested suitors at this point in time.
This comes after the Blazers selected former UConn center Donovan Clingan in the NBA Draft. With the Blazers in complete rebuild mode at the moment, getting rid of Ayton is a smart choice. He commands a hefty contract, and the Blazers are not trying to win now.
Ayton was averaging a double double with 17 points and 11 rebounds last season, making him a worthy piece for any team that needs a big. No one showing interest in him is concerning, as his locker room presence may be being considered as well.
Teams that need center depth will probably pursue him as the trade deadline rolls around to see how well he does, and in case anything happens, like an injury. While there are no suitors now, possible teams that could trade for him to have a better center could include the Dallas Mavericks, the LA Lakers, the LA Clippers, and the New Orleans Pelicans.
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