It only took a few years, a massive shake-up, a rescinded trade and an underwhelming postseason, but the Lakers have finally found their starting center. The team will sign Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, to a two-year, $16 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania as well as insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton’s contract Sunday, jolting the free agency market hours before it opened. While the Lakers’ status shifted in recent days, Stein confirmed Ayton’s commitment to LA around 1:45 p.m. PT.
The cherry on top? Ayton’s agent is Bill Duffy, who also represents his new teammate: Luka Doncic.
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Ayton a Near-Perfect Fit for the Lakers
Ayton, who found his way to Portland after a bitter breakup with the Phoenix Suns, showcased his talents for a rebuilding Blazers squad over the last two years. This season, despite only playing 40 games, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block per game. He also shot 56% from the field, 19% from three (6/32) and 67% from the charity stripe. A February left calf strain sidelined him for four weeks before it kept him out for the rest of the season.
The bruising big man is the kind of center the Lakers had turned over every stone for: a lob threat who could run to the rim, swish some midrange jumpers, and protect the paint, all while lining up with their timeline around Doncic. Despite his talent, however, reports have warned of various off-court issues, including “tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort.” With a prestigious franchise carrying high expectations and superstar talent, many expect Ayton to change his ways.
Ayton is only the second free agent signing for the purple and gold, who inked 6’8” forward and Pasadena, Calif., native Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal Monday afternoon.
The Last Word
For all his faults, Ayton is still an ideal addition to a team that was searching for solutions at the five for years. Acquiring a two-way double-double machine is a major win for the Lakers, and doing so for significantly less than his previous contract is a steal of a deal.
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