Deandre Ayton's 'tantrums' could cost him his career

Deandre Ayton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers during the offseason. The former top draft pick failed to click with the Phoenix Suns during his five seasons with the franchise. His numbers were good, but he failed to convince the front office to offer him a rookie max extension when he became eligible. 

At the time, the Suns management team came under fire for their decision not to extend Ayton. After all, they had deemed him good enough to become the first pick in the draft. However, it would now appear that Ayton's attitude could have been a problem. According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, Ayton's first few months in Portland were tough for the coaching staff.

"Although his play has spiked for the better in the past month, his first months in Portland were defined by tardiness and tantrums according to team sources," Quick wrote. "And there has been an eerie resemblance to Hassan Whiteside, the former Blazers center whose statistics looked nice, but had little to no impact on a game. The quicker the Blazers can move off Ayton, the sooner I will believe this franchise is headed in the right direction."

Ayton has all the talent required to be a dominant big in the NBA. He boasts solid lateral quickness. He has a reliable postgame. He can operate as the big man in pick-and-roll situations. And he's defensively sound. However, personality and commitment matter. Ayton needs to prove he wants to be among the best players in the world. And he has to show that he's capable of being a good teammate. 

Being a winning player goes beyond the box score. It's about how you carry yourself in the locker room, at practice and in team settings. You have to earn the trust of everyone within the organization. Being the new guy on a team and throwing tantrums is a quick way to get yourself traded. 

Portland does have another big-man prospect on their roster. Robert Williams is seen as one of the best rim-running centers in the league. The issue is he consistently has injury problems. He is currently out for the season after undergoing surgery. As such, Ayton is in a prime position to prove himself on a rebuilding team.

If the former top draft pick can't fall in line, he will likely be moved during the summer. If that happens, Ayton will have a lot to prove before the end of his current contract. Otherwise, he could be facing a battle to remain in the NBA.