NBA rumors: Brutal Deandre Ayton Blazers revelations should give Lakers pause
Since his release from the Portland Trail Blazers, DeAndre Ayton has received serious interest from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. While the move makes sense on paper, the apparent reason why Ayton is available in the first place should concern any team looking to sign him.
Advertisement
Following Ayton's release, details emerged suggesting the Blazers cut ties due to his lack of discipline and personality flaws rather than his on-court performances, according to The Athletic's Jason Quick. While he has been disappointing since landing in Portland, it was Ayton's reported 'tardiness' and 'tantrums' that did him in.
'See, the Blazers could live with Ayton missing shots or his man scoring on him,' Quick wrote. 'They could even live with him being limited by injuries to 55 and 40 games in his two seasons in Portland. 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. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort.'
The Blazers' release of Ayton was significant, considering he was the main piece they received from the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade in 2023. However, Portland seemingly prepared for the move a year ago when it selected Donovan Clingan in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Since joining the team, Ayton has averaged 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game over the last two years. While solid, his numbers have declined from his final two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, during which he averaged 17.2 and 18.0 points per game, respectively.
Advertisement
Lakers' interest in DeAndre Ayton following Blazers release
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Despite the flaws in his performances, the Los Angeles Lakers have still aggressively pursued Ayton in free agency. The Lakers have been on his tail since his release was announced, with a deal seemingly on the horizon.
The Lakers have desperately needed a center for several years, but seem to have urgency to resolve the situation in the 2025 offseason. Los Angeles has also targeted Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and Al Horford, among others.
Not only did the Lakers have a size issue in the 2024-2025 season, but they are also prepared to let Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len walk in free agency. Hayes and Len were the team's top two centers late in the year after trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic and failing to acquire Mark Williams.
Related: Nuggets continue dazzling offseason in Jonas Valanciunas trade with Kings
Related: NBA rumors: Pistons, Kings linked to Malik Monk-Dennis Schroder trade
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Juan Soto nails Pirates for 20th Mets home run
The post Juan Soto nails Pirates for 20th Mets home run appeared first on ClutchPoints. When the New York Mets brought in Juan Soto, both sides were under pressure to perform. Mets general manager David Stearns gave Soto an 15-year, $765 million deal to lure him away from the New York Yankees this offseason. He has now become the face of the other New York team, for better or worse. Soto and Mets manager have had their differences, but he has returned to form. Advertisement He got New York on the board against the Pittsburgh Pirates in their series opener on Friday. In the top of the fourth inning, the All-Star outfielder took Mitch Keller deep on a 416ft. solo-shot. The home run makes 20 on the season for Soto, a big milestone after a slow start to the season. Soto's offensive revitalization comes at a great time for the Mets. Mendoza is dealing with a litany of injuries in his starting rotation. Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea are still out and are each a few weeks away from their returns. Griffin Canning tore his Achilles in his last start. In the meantime, New York hopes they can tread water in the National League East. The Mets have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. Keller and the Pirates have been struggling all season. On the other hand, the Atlanta Braves appear to have figured something out at the plate. If New York handles business, they could open up their lead over Philadelphia. Advertisement Regardless of their place in the standings, the Mets hope that Soto's hot streak continues. Mendoza does not need him to carry the load as much as he did with the Yankees last season, but it would be a major boost to the team's offense. Soto and the Mets enter trade season well on their way to a playoff berth. However, New York is under pressure to make a move before the deadline. After coming within two wins of a World Series appearance last season, the Mets are ready to get over the hump. If Soto continues to hit like he has been, it is tough to bet against New York. Related: Mets' Griffin Canning sends message to New York fans after Achilles injury Related: Mets dealt crushing Griffin Canning injury update
Forbes
35 minutes ago
- Forbes
Top-Ranked American Taylor Fritz Marches Into First Wimbledon Semifinal
US player Taylor Fritz celebrates after victory over Russia's Karen Khachanov at the end of their ... More men's singles quarter-final tennis match on the ninth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Top-ranked American Taylor Fritz continues to make deep runs in the majors. After reaching the U.S. Open final last summer, the world No. 5 has advanced to his first Wimbledon semifinal with a four-set win over No. 19 Karen Khachanov of Russia. Fritz took out the Russian, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4)) and will face the winner between No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, and Britain's Cam Norrie in Friday's semifinals. Fritz will earn more than $1 million for making the semis. The runner up receives about $2 million and the winner about $4 million. Khachanov had led Fritz 2-0 but they had not met since 2020. Fritz dominated the first two sets on his serve before falling behind and letting the third set go. In the tiebreak, Fritz hit a forehand approach up the line and then crushed a forehand overhead to seal the win. Fritz came into Wimbledon having won grass court warm-up tournaments in Stuttgart and Eastbourne, and he knows the expectations for him are high. In the first round at Wimbledon, he trailed huge-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard two sets to love and then trailed 1-5 in the fourth-set tiebreak. He finished with 29 aces against just 2 double faults. No American man has won Wimbledon since Pete Sampras in 2000, but John McEnroe believes the Americans are 'closer than they've we've been in a while.'
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wimbledon 2025: Taylor Fritz advances to semifinals for first time with win over Karen Khachanov
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. plays a return to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the men's singles quarter final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung) For the first time in his career, Taylor Fritz has made it to the semifinals at Wimbledon. Fritz — the No. 5 ranked men's player — accomplished the feat with an impressive 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 win over Karen Khachanov on Tuesday. It was an excellent performance for the American early, though he ran into some trouble later in the match. Despite some struggles in the third and fourth set, he managed to recover to pick up the victory. Advertisement Fritz registered 16 aces. He had a success rate on roughly 90 percent of his first serves through the first two sets, which helped Fritz build his early lead. While the offense was impressive, Fritz was solid on defense, where he made 31 unforced errors. Khachanov finished with 38 unforced errors. Though Fritz played well early, Khachanov also had moments of excellent. He hung in there with Fritz during the first two sets, despite losing both. Khachanov then made a run, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the set, marking the first time in the match that he looked to have the upper hand. Fritz managed to take one game in the set, but wound up losing 6-1. Khachanov carried that momentum over to the fourth set, where he took an early 2-0 lead. Fritz showed frustration early in the set, talking animatedly with his coach in between Khachanov's points. Advertisement Once Fritz got to serve again, he got back on track. A quick win made in 2-1 in the fourth set. That seemed to be the turning point for Fritz, who tied things up in the next game. After trading the next two games, Fritz managed to take a lead after once again serving his way to victory. With the fourth set winding down, Fritz had a narrow 4-3 lead. After Khachanov battled back to make it 4-4, Fritz once again used his dominant serve to get ahead. That put Khachanov in a situation where he needed to serve to stay alive. He did just that, putting pressure on Fritz to once again serve his way to a lead. Fritz got it done again, taking a 6-5 lead in the set. With the match in his grasp, Fritz couldn't get it done, leading to a tiebreak. For the final time, Fritz dominated his serve attempts to force match point. With Khachanov serving, Fritz finally ended the match with a well-placed kill shot on a ball that hung up in the air far too long. Advertisement The win marks the farthest Fritz has advanced at Wimbledon. Prior to Tuesday's victory, Fritz had only appeared in the quarterfinals one other time at the event. He reached that stage at Wimbledon in 2022, but lost to Rafael Nadal. Fritz's championship hopes will get much tougher from here, as he could meet No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. Alcaraz will take on Cam Norrie on Tuesday. A win would push Alcaraz into the semifinals at Wimbledon for the third-straight year. Alcaraz was won Wimbledon each of the last two years. Fritz is not only looking for his first win at Wimbledon, he's also looking to become the first American man to win the event in 25 years. The last American to accomplish that feat was Pete Sampras, who defeated Patrick Rafter in the finals in 2000. It was the seventh — and last — time Sampras won the event. This story will be updated.
