Trail Blazers Make Savvy But Stunning Roster Choice On Eve Of Free Agency

Forbes

8 hours ago

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 13: General manager Joe Cronin of the Portland Trail Blazers answers ... More questions before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on April 13, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Getty Images
The Portland Trail Blazers had already participated in one of the more surprising moves this offseason. They acquired Jrue Holiday, pegged by many as earmarked for a title contender.
The two-time NBA champion adds a winning pedigree and a highly respected voice to the locker room. He will help grow the defensive and overall culture Portland is cultivating.
Holiday's also still productive at the offensive end of the floor. The two-time All-Star averaged 11.1 points and 3.9 assists in the 2024-25 campaign. He also knocked down 35.3 percent of the 4.9 threes he attempted.
Furthermore, he and his wife, Lauren Holiday, a soccer star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, make an impact and build a bond with the community wherever the 16-year veteran's career takes him.
Regarding that approach and his commitment to making a difference in the communities he plays in, during an exclusive interview in February, Holiday told Forbes: "It's been great for me because I feel like if I have to live in a city, I want to really feel a part of that city and to know that I'm really making an impact on minorities and in areas that are less beneficial has been amazing to me because you can see the drive that they have. You can see the love for their city.
"Boston is one of those cities: How they show up to the games, and it doesn't matter if it's a preseason game or the championship game, they show up the same way every single time. That's what the city is like. That's how they feel about their city, and it's been amazing to grow with the city."
The Trail Blazers parted with Anfernee Simons and draft capital to acquire a new mentor for a roster brimming with young talent. That includes former top-seven draft picks Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, who will now share a backcourt with Holiday.
Now Portland is parting with a veteran who, like Holiday, has NBA Finals experience.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 31: Deandre Ayton #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the ... More fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Moda Center on January 31, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by) Getty Images
On the eve of free agency, as midnight neared, news broke from ESPN's Shams Charania that Portland is finalizing a contract buyout with Deandre Ayton.
The former first-overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft was on an expiring $35.6 million deal. That makes this a hefty reset.
The move allows Ayton to reach free agency as it begins. He's coming off a campaign where he appeared in 40 games, starting in each of them. The seven-foot center produced 14.4 points per contest, matching his lowest career output.
Still, he averaged a double-double, grabbing 10.2 rebounds per matchup. He also swatted 1.0 shots per tilt.
The former Arizona Wildcat turns 27 in July. Given his size, age, and talent, there figures to be a competitive market for his services. A team that immediately comes to mind is the Los Angeles Lakers.
The purple and gold are in desperate need of help at the center position. They'll likely add two players at the pivot this offseason. They could offer Ayton a starting role on a title contender alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Why did the Trail Blazers buy out Ayton?
The punitive nature of the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement makes it difficult to trade a player like Ayton at his salary. It's a mistake to extrapolate that his having a market as a free agent means there was a worthwhile trade for the Trail Blazers to make.
Furthermore, Ayton is an awkward fit with fellow center Donovan Clingan. The latter was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. When the former's season ended, the 21-year-old became a fixture in the starting lineup.
Clingan generated 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in his first year in the Association. His impact went beyond his counting stats. The former UConn Huskies star could now solidify himself as a core building block for the organization.
Portland hopes the same is true of Hansen Yang. The Trail Blazers surprised draft pundits by selecting the seven-foot-one center from China with the 16th overall selection after striking a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. The latter used that pick on behalf of the former.
ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo wrote he is "a player nobody around the NBA was readily expecting to go this high in the draft. Yang is a gifted offensive player plus passer for his position who was one of the standouts at the NBA combine, playing his way into the early second round of our projections."
Yang's skill as a passer makes for a dazzling highlight reel. His nine-foot-three standing reach also gives him significant upside as a rim protector at the other end. While his fit alongside Clingan is a mystery, it's a combination Portland couldn't pass on or wait to bring on board later in the draft.
With the Trail Blazers investing in Yang and Clingan, plus Duop Reath on the team's depth chart at center, speculatory as this is, it would be understandable if Robert Williams III gets rerouted. There was no longer a spot there for Ayton. It also appears he believed it was time to move on.