Blazers’ Ayton Move Paid Off | Portland Trail Blazers News

The Blazers’ bold move to buy out Deandre Ayton paid off big time—opening the door for Donovan Clingan to thrive as a starter. Ayton’s stint with the Lakers fizzled after just one season, traded to the Wizards for assets and a second-round pick, highlighting his struggle to fit in with JJ Redick’s system or find long-term relevance. Meanwhile, Portland’s rebuild is humming: they’ve locked down Robert Williams III, added depth with players like Jeremy Sochan and Micah Potter, and are building a physical, defensive-minded roster centered around Clingan. What started as a risky gamble now looks like a masterstroke—Portland’s future is looking strong, while Ayton’s NBA journey continues on a different path. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cf5ae92a82b8431f