Shams Charania reported late on Sunday that Deandre Ayton and the Portland Trail Blazers were finalizing a buyout. Should the Milwaukee Bucks take any interest, any interest at all in this news? The team just re-signed Bobby Portis for three more years, securing a starting center for next season. Maybe now isn’t the time, but what if Ayton was open to a one-year prove-it deal? The Bucks could once again have a one-two punch at center, like they did in years past with Portis and Brook Lopez. For the duration of a second or less, it might sound interesting, but Milwaukee would do best to avoid the former no. 1 overall pick.
In Perfect Milwaukee Bucks World, Ayton Plus Portis Could Be Scary Good Tandem
Following the buyout Ayton no longer comes attached to a $35.5 million salary, and he can sign with any team, per Charania and cap rules specialist Bobby Marks. Reports suggest that Myles Turner will likely remain in Indiana, making Ayton the clear next best center available in free agency. His desire to play for a winning team was a motivating factor in his buyout request. Portland hasn’t been one lately and might not be for another year or two.
Despite failing to full expectations as a former no. 1 pick, Ayton has produced reliably across seven NBA seasons. He is as close as it gets to being an automatic double-double. Even in an injury-addled 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. For his career, those figures are 16.4 and 10.5, respectively. He can still be a valuable piece on the right contender, as he was for the Suns during their 2021 title run.
Deandre Ayton, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Free Agency
Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) dunks for the basket in front of Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee (44) during the first half in game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports (NBA News)
Phoenix is where the soon-to-be 27-year-old began his career, but that relationship ended on a sour note. Rumors suggested that Ayton constituted a toxic locker room presence.
Since being traded to Portland, still on the four-year, $133 million extension he signed with the Suns, he has played just 95 games. He could benefit from health and motivation.
Despite his reputation for lapses, Ayton can provide plus rim protection when engaged. As good as Bobby Portis is, defense is not his strength. On that end of the floor, Ayton could fill a role quite similar to what Lopez did in his prime. Rostering two starting-caliber centers brought the Bucks a championship over Ayton’s Suns; perhaps it’s a recipe for success.
Milwaukee Bucks, Deandre Ayton, NBA free agency
Nov 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots behind Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Fun But Fizzling Fantasy
Even if acquiring Ayton were realistic, however, it doesn’t make much sense. First, he would have to sign for much less than he’s worth, when he could likely get more elsewhere, and possibly shift his attitude: Would he start or come off the bench in Milwaukee? If the above things were true, he could be both a realistic and tantalizing option.
Given his track record, though, neither charity nor humility seems likely. In order to play for a contender and re-juice his value, he might indeed take less money. Unless he’s feeling saintly, though, it still feels like he’ll want more than a pittance. The Bucks could find themselves past the first apron of the salary cap before they know it.
Paying Ayton would limit what the Bucks can do elsewhere. Say he took a paycut down to the $14.1 million midlevel exception. He wants to win, right? Well, the Bucks couldn’t then use it on Gary Trent and Kevin Porter, two key potential re-signings, or on any other embodiment of guard help. With Portis under contract, that should be the next place they look.
The other, no less relevant problem is that the Bucks might have promised BP the starting job as part of his very team-friendly deal – another one. Considering the five years and $125 million Naz Reid got from the Wolves, it certainly seems that Portis could command more than his $44 million over three. Given the present state of Milwaukee’s roster, it’s fair to assume that he is slated to start.
Deandre Ayton, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA free agency
Feb 14, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant look on against the Sacramento Kings during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports (NBA News)
Adding Ayton would almost surely put Portis back in the second unit, an unfair bait-and-switch. Of course, Ayton could theoretically come off the bench, but that would be asking for a miracle. Maybe he’s mellowed out from his Phoenix days, but expecting a player who calls him “Dominayton” to accept a reserve role would be foolhardy at best. While he can hit the occasional middy, his range is largely restricted within the arc, limiting the effectiveness of Ayton-Giannis Antetokounmpo lineups.
While a frontcourt featuring Giannis, Ayton, and Portis is a fun fantasy – is it fun? Ayton seems like a party pooper, which BP and Giannis are most definitely not – it’s not feasible either financially or from a personnel perspective. The Bucks can’t tell Portis he’s back on the bench. Moreover, they can’t spend on luxuries before filling out the rest of the roster. They have to build a floor before they think about raising the ceiling.
The rest of the center market isn’t exciting, but the Bucks seem poised to settle for a clearcut reserve-tier big behind Portis, possibly by simply re-signing Jericho Sims.
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