The Los Angeles Lakers just made a massive frontcourt move. Deandre Ayton is headed to Hollywood.
As first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent center Deandre Ayton, who finalized a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week. The deal includes a player option and will pay Ayton $34 million total next season, split between his Portland buyout and Lakers contract.
A Fresh Start—and a Familiar Face
Ayton will now reunite with Luka Doncic, his fellow top-three pick from the 2018 NBA Draft. The two formed a bond during their draft class journey, and now they’ll be teammates on a Lakers squad trying to retool for a title run.
After a rocky stint in Portland, Ayton made it clear he wanted to join a contender. His camp approached the Trail Blazers seeking a buyout, citing the team’s growing number of young bigs. Now, at age 27, he joins a loaded Lakers roster with a clear starting role and championship expectations.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Despite playing only 40 games last season, Ayton still put up 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 56.6% from the field. He joins a short list of players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic, to average a double-double in each of the past seven seasons.
He’s also the first player since Dwight Howard to begin his career with seven straight 10+ point, 10+ rebound seasons.
Big Expectations in the Big City
Lakers president Rob Pelinka helped close the deal with Ayton’s agents, Nima Namakian and Bill Duffy, after the big man cleared waivers on Wednesday. While several teams showed interest, Ayton ultimately chose Los Angeles for the opportunity to anchor a contending team.
With LeBron James still weighing his future and Doncic expected to sign a long-term extension, the Lakers are shaping a roster that could compete now and build for later. Ayton will play a key role in both timelines.