The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to re-tool their roster around superstar Damian Lillard this summer, and some big names have been floated.
One major addition that has been out there as a possibility for the Blazers is acquiring Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton via a sign-and-trade. Ayton is a player Lillard is reportedly interested in playing with, but he would also come with a max contract as he’s looking for a new deal.
While Ayton is great offensively, and coming off a year where he averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, he’s been inconsistent and isn’t considered an elite defender. The Blazers obviously need to get better on the defensive side of the ball.
So, is Ayton even a fit for the Blazers?
It doesn’t look like they believe he is.
According to a report from Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, “Portland does not appear to be a legitimate landing spot” for Ayton.
Fischer’s report adds that the Blazers are expected to retain starting center Jusuf Nurkic and prioritize targeting Toronto Raptors swing OG Anunoby in any return for the No. 7 overall pick in next week’s NBA Draft.
He also added another name to the trade rumor mix.
“But there has been increasing talk about Portland potentially targeting the seventh selection to Oklahoma City for No. 12 and a package that could include Lu Dort,” Fischer wrote.
Lillard remains under contract with the Blazers and they’re expected to re-sign Anfernee Simons this summer. Beyond that, there are a bunch of different options for Joe Cronin and the front office to explore.
Whatever those moves are will likely center around adding defense and length to the mix, which fits Dort and Anunoby. These moves wouldn’t turn the Blazers into a championship contender, but they would put them on a better path toward getting better.
Atlanta, Detroit, and Toronto are the most likely landing spots for Ayton, Fischer reported.
– Aron Yohannes