Deandre Ayton Bought Out - Where's he going?

[Seventyniner]

In 2022 a Sports Illustrated article showcased his addiction to video games right before start of the Playoffs. He played great, but then had that horrible Game 7 (entire Suns team did) and refused to re-enter the blowout loss since he was a RFA and didn’t want to risk injury in a 40-point game. And that’s when every major issue that had been hinted at settled and propped its feet up and made Ayton’s mentality home. Talking with some Portland people, his energy was callous and toxic and indifferent. He is what he is and can get by with a lot of stuff on pure size, talent, athleticism, but he stopped caring a long time ago and Trail Blazers would rather get nothing than even anything at the deadline.

Reminds me some of Andrew Bynum. The size of the fight in the dog.

[JMarkJohns]

Reminds me some of Andrew Bynum. The size of the fight in the dog.

Probably. I know Bynum had some injuries that derailed things by the end.

Ayton might have a sprain thumb or two. Joysticks can be tough.

[CorrectCrusader]

Motor was always the “needs improvement” aspect of his game, but it was never awful. Early on he was still learning some basics and instincts, so his hesitation made the “motor” aspect look worse. But he had both a dynamic season at Arizona 20-10, 60% DPOY Pac12POY All-American and after about 1.5 years in the NBA really find his role and niche and played hard about 85% of the time and was a force in many ways.

Then came his contract extension, Suns didn’t want to offer Max, Sarver did a Joe Johnson with him, and as a restricted FA he signed a max tender with Pacers. Monty wanted a trade, Ayton wanted a trade, instead Sarver and Jones matched, one year later he was trade to Portland, 2 years later he’s bought out.

In 2022 a Sports Illustrated article showcased his addiction to video games right before start of the Playoffs. He played great, but then had that horrible Game 7 (entire Suns team did) and refused to re-enter the blowout loss since he was a RFA and didn’t want to risk injury in a 40-point game. And that’s when every major issue that had been hinted at settled and propped its feet up and made Ayton’s mentality home. Talking with some Portland people, his energy was callous and toxic and indifferent. He is what he is and can get by with a lot of stuff on pure size, talent, athleticism, but he stopped caring a long time ago and Trail Blazers would rather get nothing than even anything at the deadline.

Some people compared him to David Robinson coming out of the draft. He'll never be a quarter of the man the Admiral is.

[JMarkJohns]

Some people compared him to David Robinson coming out of the draft. He'll never be a quarter of the man the Admiral is.

Yeah. I can’t speak for everybody. I was very high on him from prep to college to pro, he had every physical trait for incredible success. From a logical analysis Robinson was an awful comparison because of two reasons. First, Deandre was a very gifted athlete off a gather, but he didn’t glide or effortlessly leap like Robinson. I called it explosive lumbering, like if Duncan could jump 40 inches. This isn’t to say Duncan wasn’t athletic, just a more methodical, deliberate style of athletic. I think every Spurs fan would agree prime Robinson had far more physical athleticism than prime Duncan, even if Duncan was arguably more able to get the most out of his ability. Now imagine Duncan with a 40” gather vertical? That was Ayton. I had actually said he reminded me of Ralph Sampson around the hoop and in the lane than other bigs. More finesse. Which leads to… second, while Ayton had incredible touch around the hoop (peak FG% of 80% at rim, 60% in lane on runners, floaters, baby hooks), he struggled putting the ball on the floor for more than a bounce, and overall he just didn’t play instinctually on either end. He would never come close to players like Robinson or Hakeem in impact simply because he didn’t trust himself to just do. His biggest issue when he was good was a paralysis by analysis.

Overall, this could all still be worked past and he could have become a monster. For 3 years his per-36 was basically 20-12 with 2.5 stocks on 60+% FG on pretty low usage and a 2.5 year stretch where he had a top-3 FG% differential amongst bigs and contested the 3rd most shots in basketball. If he locks in there, makes a 12 year career at those levels, he’s probably a borderline HoFer.

But that brings us back to mentality and motivation and Ayton simply put gave up on the game.

I’d hoped Spurs and Pop could save him. But truth is, he’s lost himself.

[Ice009]

TD was very athletic when he came into the NBA. He wasn't the highest leaper or anything, but he had great lateral mobility. I'd rather that over someone like Amare who was an explosive jumper (not trying to trash Amare, he just seems to be the example I use as most people know him), but had average lateral mobility.

Anyway, sounds like Ayton could have been so much more. Weren't the Spurs interested in signing him before he signed that offer sheet with Indiana?

[benefactor]

Congratulations on your 40,000+ post count, I guess? I don’t post often, but I’ve been an active reader for 20+ years.

Ayton news had just dropped last night, and I thought it was thread worthy since we need another big.

He's not coming here so it didn't need a thread...but here we are so congratulations as well I suppose.

And being an active reader for 20 years it doesn't really matter. Look at ducks. If you wrapped dough around his thumb he would think it was a pig in a blanket and take a bite out of it.

[DPG21920]

Seems pretty damn obvious Ayton should go to Lakers.

1) Big Market + new rich owner

2) Huge need at Center = playing time

3) Luka will make anyone look good

If you want PT and to trick someone into a big new deal, teaming up with Luka in LA is a no brainer

[JMarkJohns]

TD was very athletic when he came into the NBA. He wasn't the highest leaper or anything, but he had great lateral mobility. I'd rather that over someone like Amare who was an explosive jumper (not trying to trash Amare, he just seems to be the example I use as most people know him), but had average lateral mobility.

Anyway, sounds like Ayton could have been so much more. Weren't the Spurs interested in signing him before he signed that offer sheet with Indiana?

Again. Wasn’t trying to put Duncan down. As I said his athleticism vs Robinson’s wasn’t really close. The latter glided with the ball or in space and had quick ups. Duncan was more methodical. It’s not a slight to the insanely productive, 5x Champion and Hall Of Famer. Probably should have used a different point of reference for the methodical athleticism of Ayton but figured everyone here would understand the difference twixt Duncan and Robinson’s prime athletic peaks.

[Ice009]

Again. Wasn’t trying to put Duncan down. As I said his athleticism vs Robinson’s wasn’t really close. The latter glided with the ball or in space and had quick ups. Duncan was more methodical. It’s not a slight to the insanely productive, 5x Champion and Hall Of Famer. Probably should have used a different point of reference for the methodical athleticism of Ayton but figured everyone here would understand the difference twixt Duncan and Robinson’s prime athletic peaks.

No, all good. I was just pointing out Tim's lateral quickness/mobility was great his first few years before the knee issues. I don't think many people remember seeing him back then. He could move his feet side to side and was fluid. Wasn't the highest leaper, but was fluid. Someone will have to correct me, but I think it was also better than D-Rob's (lateral mobility only I am referring to). Overall D-Rob was a superior athlete, though. Ayton's may have been better than older Tim for sure, but I don't think he was more athletic than 1-3 year TD before his knee injury.

[exstatic]

Where’s he going? Ultimately to China.