NBA Trades: 7 center trade targets the Pelicans must chase to avoid disaster
By Cal Durrett
6) Deandre Ayton
The Portland Trail Blazers interestingly chose to pick Donovan Clingan seventh overall in the 2024 NBA Draft despite them already having Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams.
Ayton played well last season for the Blazers and he might be a reasonable trade target for New Orleans. That is if Portland is willing to take back franchise legend CJ McCollum and a 2027 second-round pick via Chicago.
Ayton is a polarizing player who is also set to make almost $70 million over the next two seasons but McCollum is set to make around the same during that span. Swapping him out for a starting center would be a good reallocation of funds for the Pels, with Ayton being able to hold down the paint on both sides of the ball.
For the Blazers, it would clear out playing time for Clingan while also giving players such as Scoot Henderson a mentor. McCollum's presence might not make sense unless they move on from Anfernee Simons, which they may reportedly move before the start of training camp. That may serve as the precursor to an Ayton trade and New Orleans should at least kick the tires on acquiring him given their need at starting center.