Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal 

There seems to be a reluctance among this Trail Blazers administration to make any significant changes. 

Taking the example of Jusuf Nurkic at the five, they’ve had him there for quite some time now. It can be argued that this has been going on for far too long. As good as Nurkic is, he is a defensive liability against certain matchups, and he isn’t a threat when it comes to lobs in pick-and-roll situations. 

On the other hand, we know that Ayton is playoff-proof when it comes to defense. As a matter of fact, he was the anchor for an NBA Finals run.

All in all, for the Blazers, this is largely about making meaningful upgrades at their center position in order to help them succeed in the future. 

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns & Portland Trail Blazers Updates

As for rebuilding, if they were to choose to do so, it would be about reestablishing the center of their future. At the age of 24, Ayton is still very young. There is a chance that the Blazers might not be able to procure a player as productive as him with their first-round pick in 2025. 

Is it a good idea for the Suns to take a similar risk?