Deandre Ayton Could Bring A Ton Of Value To A NBA Team

Despite many moves taking place in the league, Ayton is still a free agent

The NBA season is officially over, and free agency talks are beginning to heat up. Many free agents have been signed in the last few days, but some have yet to be offered a contract.

Deandre Ayton, who recently played for the Portland Trail Blazers, is an important player to keep an eye on.

Ayton’s appearance on the free agent market came unexpectedly, considering he had one more year left on the four-year contract signed with the Phoenix Suns. However, after approaching the Blazers’ front office with desires to play for a contending team, both parties agreed to a contract buyout.

Ayton still brings value

Despite being labeled as a “diva and cancer in the locker room” by some, Ayton still possesses skills that many teams could find important.

During his seven-year career, Ayton established himself as a traditional center, a trait slowly fading away in today’s era. Standing at 7’0” and 250 pounds, he has the innate ability to dominate near the rim offensively.

Throughout his career, he maintained an average of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, consistently achieving a double-double average each season. Similar to many players his size, he collects most of his points in the paint and mid-range areas.

Another extremely significant trait is winning experience.

Throughout Ayton's five-year period with the Suns, the team qualified for the playoffs three straight times. In 2021, they reached the Finals, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Ayton was a key contributor for the Suns. Throughout that playoff run, he averaged 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds.

A minor setback in his skill set

Ayton’s contributions on offense can’t be denied.

However, his inconsistency on defense can raise eyebrows. Even though his defense has improved throughout his career, he has struggled to maintain that presence. He averages only 1.0 blocks for his career, which is unusual for a player his size.

Ayton has recently drawn interest from multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers. Given his offensive skills and athletic abilities, acquiring him could present a significant advantage for any team.

Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson