EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Deandre Ayton, a prominent center in the NBA, has decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, as confirmed by two individuals with direct knowledge of the agreement. These sources requested anonymity since the official announcement has yet to be made. Ayton was notably the top pick in the 2018 NBA draft, chosen two spots ahead of star player Luka Doncic.
Recently, Ayton’s contract was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers, paving the way for him to sign with the Lakers, where he will be joining forces with Doncic and LeBron James for the upcoming NBA season. The terms include a player option for the 2026-27 season. Despite his move to a new team, Ayton will still receive over $25 million in payments from the Trail Blazers while wearing the Lakers jersey next year.
The acquisition of Ayton addresses a critical gap in the Lakers’ offseason strategy, as the team was in need of an impactful player to partner with James and Doncic on the court. While Ayton is not widely recognized for his defensive skills, his presence at 7 feet will bring much-needed size to the lineup, especially since the team’s trade of Anthony Davis to Dallas for Doncic left a void in the center position.
Approaching his 27th birthday this month, Ayton had his NBA beginnings with the Phoenix Suns, where he played for five seasons before his tenure with the Trail Blazers. His move to Portland came about as part of a three-team trade deal that saw Damian Lillard head to Milwaukee. While Ayton faced challenges in Portland’s team, he managed to maintain averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds over his career, making 59% of his field goals. His last season was cut short to 40 games due to a calf injury in February.
Despite not having made the All-Star list, Ayton stands out as the sole player in a decade to average a double-double in points and rebounds in each of his first seven NBA seasons, a feat last accomplished by Dwight Howard, a former center with the Lakers.
Ayton’s connection to Southern California is established from his high school basketball days in San Diego, following his move from the Bahamas. He continued his basketball journey at the University of Arizona before being drafted by the Suns.
The Lakers experienced a challenging time in the paint last season in the absence of Anthony Davis. The team struggled during critical playoff games, highlighted by their elimination from the first round by Minnesota. In the decisive matchup, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert dominated with 27 points and 24 rebounds, exploiting the Lakers’ lack of a robust center.