07/02/25 05:10:00
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07/02 17:09 CDT Deandre Ayton will join LeBron, Luka and the Lakers after
Portland buyout, AP sources say
Deandre Ayton will join LeBron, Luka and the Lakers after Portland buyout, AP
sources say
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) --- Center Deandre Ayton has agreed to join the Los
Angeles Lakers as a free agent, two people with knowledge of the deal told The
Associated Press on Wednesday.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal could not yet be
announced between the Lakers and Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA
draft --- two spots ahead of Luka Doncic.
The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton's contract last weekend, and he has
agreed to join Doncic and LeBron James on a one-year deal with a player option
for 2026-27. He will be paid more than $25 million by the Blazers while playing
for the Lakers in the upcoming season.
Ayton's arrival fills the Lakers' most glaring offseason need. He will provide
a lob target for James and Doncic while adding the defensive size in the middle
that they have missed since trading Anthony Davis to Dallas for Doncic.
Ayton spent his first five NBA seasons with Phoenix before joining the Trail
Blazers two years ago. He struggled in Portland while playing for mediocre
teams, but he has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds during his seven
seasons while making 59% of his shots.
The Lakers struggled without Davis in the paint last season, with Jaxson Hayes
playing poorly enough to get benched by coach JJ Redick in the final games. Los
Angeles was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota in
five games, with big man Rudy Gobert racking up 27 points and 24 rebounds in
the clinching victory while the Lakers largely played without a center.
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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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