However, his fit alongside some of the players never worked too well so the Suns made the decision to move him. Now with Portland, Ayton is playing more freely and seems to genera

Deandre Ayton is a year removed from the Phoenix Suns trading him to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a three-team deal right before training camp of the 2023-24 season. Ayton sat in the visitors locker room Saturday at Footprint Center before facing his former team far more relaxed answering questions about his five seasons in Phoenix than he was last year on his first trip to Phoenix after the blockbuster trade went down.

Anfernee Simons scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 13 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 118-100 on Monday night.