The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Deandre Ayton this past summer, getting him to forfeit $10 million of his salary for this 2025-26 season in the process. It was a somewhat polarizing decision. Portland hoped Ayton would benefit from a change of scenery after a relatively underwhelming stint with the Phoenix Suns. That wasn't the case, as it was more of the up-and-down "Deandre Ayton experience".
But all things considered, he wasn't bad. Ayton averaged a double-double both seasons in Portland, giving them a viable starting-level center. The Blazers also entered this season with aspirations to make, at the very least, a play-in spot.