Deandre Ayton is the talented center that the Phoenix Suns drafted in 2018. In the three-team deal involving Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Ayton from the Suns. Ayton and the Trail Blazers will play their second preseason game against the Suns at home in Oregon on Thursday evening.
When asked about his thoughts on facing his former team, Deandre was pretty upset. In his last season with the Suns, Ayton averaged 18 points and 10.0 rebounds in 67 games. He was key to the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals in 2021. With the Blazers, Ayton will help fill the role that Jusuf Nurkic had last season.
Deandre Ayton wants nothing to do with the Suns any more
Evan Sidery, a sports enthusiast and journalist, tweeted Ayton’s response when asked about his former team. “I have no thoughts. … I don’t want to talk about it.”
Deandre Ayton on his five seasons spent with the Suns:
“I have no thoughts. … I don’t want to talk about it.”
Ayton recently unfollowed only two former teammates on Instagram: Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
The Trail Blazers play against Phoenix tomorrow in preseason action. pic.twitter.com/nF6XU6lVxC
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) October 11, 2023
Two seasons ago, in the second round of the playoffs, Deandre Ayton was benched late in games by then-coach Monty Williams. The Suns had come up on the short end during last season’s playoffs. Add to it the Suns’ center was underperforming. It became clear that Ayton would soon become the oddball in the team. And ahead of his obvious lack of interest in the Suns, the 25-year-old had unfollowed his former teammates, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Ayton just unfollowed Book and KD. They still follow him.
Lol. pic.twitter.com/DaCXELNZVm
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) October 2, 2023
Would you say that this was a petty move on Ayton’s part?
What Ayton brings to the Blazers
Talking to AP news, Deandre Ayton exudes confidence in his role at the Blazers. “I bring dominance,” he says. “My name is DominAyton.” Great choice of name. It has every potential to be the top contender for the next Transformers movie. Since Ayton holds the copyright on this one, Michael Bay will have to look for a better name. Or he could ask Deandre’s permission to use it. Either way, the Blazers are in for a treat.
zers’ coach Billups said that they didn’t acquire Ayton to put him out on the court the majority of the time like Embiid. It’s more of a connected experience that Deandre will have to fill. Take charge of the young talents in the team.
Given Ayton’s outlook on the Suns, fans can expect July 4th on the court.
