The Portland Trail Blazers will save roughly $10 million after buying out the contract of center Deandre Ayton.
But don’t expect that to lead to a frenzy of free agent spending.
The NBA’s free agent negotiating window began at 3 p.m. Monday with numerous signings and trades announced across the league within hours.
However, the Blazers’ movement has been limited to reaching an agreement with Ayton to end their two-year relationship.
Ayton, acquired via trade before the 2023 training camp, was owed $35.5 million for next season. He will receive about $25.5 million from the Blazers, an NBA source has told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
That money will count against the Blazers’ cap, leaving them with little added flexibility.
The NBA announced Monday that the new cap number is $154.6 million. The Blazers’ payroll, including Ayton’s salary, could exceed $160 million (contingent on other moves), but land far below the $187.9 million tax level threshold.
That means the Blazers can take advantage of the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million to sign free agents or absorb salary in a trade.
Additionally, the Blazers have a bi-annual exception worth $5.1 million and a $6.9 million trade exception.
At the end of a 36-46 season, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said the team needed to add shooting. That became even more imperative after trading Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics for guard Jrue Holiday.
Simons led the Blazers in scoring last season and has been the team’s best outside shooter since trading Damian Lillard in 2023.
Two familiar faces on the market are former Blazers guards Seth Curry and Malcolm Brogdon. However, a source said not to expect the Blazers to be overly active in this free agent market.
Ayton was traded in a package that included forward Toumani Camara for center Jusuf Nurkic, forward Nassir Little, guard Keon Johnson and guard Grayson Allen, acquired when the Blazers sent Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks for Holiday and picks.
Nurkic was traded last season to the Charlotte Hornets, who recently sent him to Utah for guard Collin Sexton.
Trail Blazers Fan Fest
Deandre Ayton shoots over Donovan Clingan as the Portland Trail Blazers hold their annual Fan Fest at Moda Center on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Ayton, 26, has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, who desperately need a starting-caliber center. One of their reported targets, Brook Lopez, has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the LA Clippers.
Ayton averaged 16.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game during his first season with the Blazers and 14.4 points with 10.2 rebounds in his first season.
The Blazers attempted to trade Ayton but couldn’t find any takers, leading to the buyout.
The move leaves 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan, the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft, as the presumptive starter. Last week, the Blazers selected 7-1 Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick.
Also remaining on the roster are centers Robert Williams III and Duop Reath, whose $2.2 million contract for next season is not guaranteed.
Williams, who has appeared in just 26 games over two seasons with the Blazers due to injuries, has one season remaining on his contract worth $13.3 million.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)