This historically bad stat exposes Deandre Ayton's biggest weakness

The Portland Trail Blazers would do the trade for Deandre Ayton ten times out of ten as it allowed them to get a key foundational piece in Toumani Camara. However, individually, Ayton's time in Portland hasn't gone according to plan.

The Blazers' big man showed flashes towards the end of last season and finally appeared to have adjusted to his new team and city. Many hoped he'd pick up where he left off and continue to show why he's a former No. 1 overall pick and self-proclaimed "DominAyton." Unfortunately, he's regressed in his second year with the Blazers.

Ayton is supposed to be entering his prime at 26 years old, yet he's averaging a career-low 14.0 points per game. It's not all bad on the offensive end. He is shooting 56.4 percent from the field and has one of the best midrange jumpers among all centers in the league.

But one glaring flaw in his game is his historic inability to get to the charity stripe:

Deandre Ayton's low free throw attempts highlight his failure to assert himself physically

Ayton is averaging a career-low 1.1 free throw attempts per game. That's tied for 181st in the league with several guards who play substantially fewer minutes than him (Monte Morris, Shake Milton, Luke Kennard, etc.). Even Donovan Clingan, who plays 13.5 fewer minutes a game, is averaging one free throw attempt.

Despite his 7-foot frame, he isn't a commanding presence, which limits his upside considerably. Ayton isn't an ideal modern center because he's not a dominant rim protector defensively (1.0 blocks) and can't effectively shoot threes on offense.

Before the season, there was talk of a potential Twin Towers lineup with the Blazers playing two centers simultaneously. Chauncey Billups should still experiment with that lineup, as Portland doesn't have much to lose. But Ayton's 19.4 percent three-point shooting makes him an awkward fit alongside another center.

Given Ayton's inconsistent effort, inability to get to the charity stripe, poor screen-setting, and lack of rim protection, you could make a strong case that he's no longer Portland's best center. His struggles in multiple key areas make it more apparent that the Blazers must turn their focus toward building around Clingan.

Ayton needs to make up for those weaknesses in his game by being an elite scorer. It's difficult to justify his massive $34 million contract if he's not a 20-10 player, at the very least. That's an uphill battle if he's only going to the line once a game.