According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Portland Trail Blazers and Deandre Ayton have come to a mutual agreement to finalize a contract buyout for the former number one overall pick to become a free agent.

Ayton will become an unrestricted agent where he’ll be able to clear waivers come Wednesday at 5 PM EST.

He was entering the final year of his $133 million contract, which he was owed $35.6 million. Charania described the big man’s departure as “a sudden, surprising” development into the free agency class mix.

In 40 games played last season, the 26-year-old averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.

Deandre Ayton: I Can Feel The Whole World Hating Me

Deandre Ayton: I Can Feel The Whole World Hating Me

It appears Deandre Ayton is set to return to the Phoenix Suns after it felt his time has ended with the organization and fanbase almost hoping for him to be gone.

With that said, Frank Vogel and the Suns still believe in Ayton and it appears Ayton wants to get better and prove why he’s on the Phoenix Suns.

“I can feel the whole world hating me in a way,” Ayton said in the 37-second video clip Eyewitness News Bahamas tweeted. “I’m the guy a lot of people point at and I see it and feel it, but mainly what I’ve been working on five to six days a week since we’ve lost is just motivating myself to change the narrative of what people think about me. No matter you put it, I feel like I have no fans out there and I can feel it because the whole world is saying it. My goal is over the summer is to change the narrative. Just unlock whatever it is and just completely just focus on me and change the whole thing.”

While many still don’t believe Ayton will change, there is optimism within the organization and some across the fanbase that something can be sparked within Deandre Ayton.

Deandre Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last season.

Mavericks’ Interest In Deandre Ayton “Overstated”

Mavericks’ Interest In Deandre Ayton “Overstated”

Per Marc Stein, at this point in time, the trade value the Mavericks have for Deandre Ayton has been “overstated at this point”.

“I don’t get any sense at this juncture that Ayton is Dallas’ top trade target,” added Stein.

While the Suns are actively shopping the center, Dallas will not be jumping through hoops to acquire him. It appears the Mavericks have other plans in mind for this offseason.