The Blazers acquired Ayton, the former first overall pick, in a three-way Damian Lillard trade with the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks during the summer. With his four-year, $132.9 million contract, it appears that he was more of a salary-match acquisition than a player Portland truly wanted as a long-term building component.
Ayton never lived up to his full potential in Phoenix and struggled with a lot of injuries throughout his time there, even though the Suns were able to make it to the NBA Finals in 2021 with him starting at center. For the Blazers this season, Ayton, 25, is averaging 13.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. However, it seems like Ayton brought a lot of those same problems with him to Portland.
On Friday, Jason Quick of The Athletic published a negative article about big man Ayton of the Portland Trail Blazers. Ayton’s first few months in Portland, according to Quick, were “defined by tardiness and tantrums.” Quick compared Ayton to former Portland center Hassan Whiteside, a player with respectable numbers but inconsistent effort and a generally low effect on the team, even if he admitted that Ayton’s play has improved over the past month.
The New Orleans Hornets’ 139-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night featured multiple defensive and mental lapses. Due to injuries, several Pelicans will be playing on the road tonight, including one of their better defenders.
Due to left knee discomfort, guard Dyson Daniels is out of the game. Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall, and Zion Williamson all doubtful for tonight’s game at Moda Center. Williamson led New Orleans with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Lakers. Marshall missed the game in Los Angeles, and Trey Murphy finished with just five points and one rebound.
Anfernee Simons,and Anfernee Simons, two shooting guards, will not be available for Portland. Simons finished with 29 points, five assists, and twoTrail Blazers big Jabari Walker, who put up a career-high 49 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in forty-five minutes against the Pistons on February 8, is someone New Orleans should watch.