Quick: Blazers Couldn’t Live with Ayton’s ‘Bad Ways’

One day after the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a buyout of starting center Deandre Ayton’s $35.6 million contract, The Athletic’s Jason Quick looked back at the rocky two-year stint (subscription required). It leaves readers mulling the possibility that the Trail Blazers made a mistake by acquiring him in 2023. It opens with a maxim from coach Chauncey Billups’ office, “You can have bad plays, but not bad ways,” and doesn’t shy away from Ayton’s connection to it.

But in the end, they couldn’t live with his bad ways. The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games.…