Deandre Ayton Reportedly Had 'Tantrums,' Skipped Rehab Before Blazers Contract Buyout

Center Deandre Ayton reportedly displayed a pattern of unbecoming behavior that led to the Portland Trail Blazers' decision to buy out the remainder of his contract Sunday.

According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, a team source said there were instances of Ayton being late for team flights and practices, skipping rehab appointments and throwing "tantrums" in the locker room after getting benched due to poor effort.

A team source added that upon arriving to Portland, Ayton "envisioned himself as the cornerstone, the big fish, and he acted like it.

Ayton was reportedly "carefree and loud" in the locker room and was often heard "blurting out songs or offhand comments," causing Blazers veterans to roll their eyes.

With the buyout, Ayton will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Ayton spent the past two seasons with the Blazers, but injuries limited him to 55 games in 2023-24 and 40 games last season.

He was largely productive when healthy, averaging 16.7 points on 57.0 percent shooting to go along with 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game two seasons ago, and 14.4 points on 56.6 percent shooting with 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block per game last season.

After Ayton started collegiately at the University of Arizona, the Phoenix Suns selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft.

Over his first five NBA seasons with the Suns, Ayton averaged 16.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block per game. He also played a pivotal role in Phoenix reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, averaging 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds over 22 playoff games.

Ayton has averaged a double-double in each of his seven NBA seasons, but durability has long been an issue.

He has appeared in 70 or more games in a season only once in his career, and he has played fewer than 60 games on four occasions.

Despite his solid production, the Suns moved on from Ayton following the 2021-22 season, trading him to the Blazers as part of a three-team deal that also included the Milwaukee Bucks.

In July 2022, the Suns matched the four-year, $133 million offer sheet Ayton signed with the Indiana Pacers, but they moved on from him just over one year later.

The Blazers were among the NBA's worst teams during Ayton's tenure, winning only 21 games in 2023-24 and 36 games last season.

He had been set to enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26, but the Blazers parted ways with him, giving him the opportunity for a fresh start.

Although reports about Ayton's attitude place him in a less-than-flattering light, he is a productive 7-footer who turns 27 later this month, so it seems likely that a team will bank on his talent and the possibility of him blossoming in new surroundings.