Deandre Ayton Articles - Page 3

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton says he received a welcome message from his new teammate Luka Doncic amid his free agency signing. Ayton is still in disbelief that he’s joining Doncic and the Lakers. Ayton was the first overall pick in his 2018 NBA Draft, which is the same draft class as Luka, who […]

The Los Angeles Lakers got their center in free agency after Deandre Ayton decided to sign with the team after being bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers. Almost every team in the Western Conference has a strong frontcourt, and then you look at the Golden State Warriors. Center has been one position where they […]

The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the most talked-about moves of NBA free agency by signing Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to a two-year, $16.6 million deal. The addition comes as Los Angeles looks to retool its roster and give LeBron James one final push for […]

The Los Angeles Lakers’ vision for the 2025-26 campaign seems almost set, as they build a roster that will optimally put up more of a fight in the playoffs next year. The LeBron James-related concern that surfaced at the beginning of the offseason is starting to diminish, Luka Doncic is reportedly prioritizing his conditioning and […]

The Los Angeles Lakers just signed Deandre Ayton to a two-year contract worth just over $16 million. He’ll step in as the starting center and have the opportunity to bounce back from an injury-filled season with the Portland Trail Blazers. At the very least, he seems excited about playing alongside Luka Doncic, as Ayton revealed […]

When news broke that DeAndre Ayton was signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, it elicited a range of reactions from around the Association. Some were excited to see the Lakers land a legitimate center, one with No. 1 overall pick pedigree no less, after watching the team get brutalized in the paint by the supersized […]

After a flourish of activity early in free agency, landing Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, the Los Angeles Lakers have stalled out a bit with work still clearly needing to be done. According to sources with an understanding of their offseason plans speaking on the condition of anonymity, the team is hoping to reignite trade […]

On Sunday night, Deandre Ayton was officially announced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers after the 26-year-old center finalized a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers a week ago. Ayton is coming in to be the Lakers’ new starting center after they finished last season with Jaxson Hayes (not a starting-caliber big) […]

The Los Angeles Lakers had one urgent area of need to address this offseason and they managed to do so in a big way (pun intended). On Sunday, it was officially announced by the Lakers’ official account on X that they had brought in Deandre Ayton to be the team’s new starting center. Ayton agreed […]

The Los Angeles Lakers recently signed center Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal, and while some might be skeptical, one former big man is confident that the move will pan out. Former Lakers center Mychal Thompson recently commented on the signing  and showed support for the Arizona product, who has ruffled some feathers during his […]

In some ways, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic impacted Deandre Ayton’s decision to sign with the Lakers as a free agent this summer. The history between Doncic and Ayton dates back to their 2018 NBA Draft. They also nearly teamed up with Doncic was with the Dallas Mavericks, and now, they join forces alongside […]

Deandre Ayton’s decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers was reportedly influenced by the opportunity to play alongside Luka Doncic, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. The two former top picks are both 26 years old and enter the 2025-26 season as central pieces in the Lakers’ retooled roster. In a recent report, Scotto detailed the […]

After Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton received conflicting predictions on his new tenure with the Lakers, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins warned the veteran center of the expectations that await. This is a tremendous opportunity alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. After Ayton delivered a message to Los Angeles fans and its front office, Perkins reminded […]

As the NBA world reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers’ Deandre Ayton signing, two conflicting views from his former employers, the Phoenix Suns and Portland Blazers, have reportedly weighed in on the veteran center’s fit. The Blazers’ former staffer has high hopes for Ayton and the Lakers, while the Suns’ former staffer doesn’t think DeAndre […]

The Lakers just made a major move in NBA Free Agency, and Luka Doncic is all in. After weeks of speculation and failed trade talks, Los Angeles signed Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal. The addition gives them a true center with size, athleticism, and playoff experience. More importantly, it answers a roster gap Doncic […]

They might be losing LeBron James, but the Los Angeles Lakers found their center by signing Deandre Ayton in free agency. While head coach JJ Redick is clearly on board with the move, he has been higher on Ayton than many others for a while. Shortly after the Lakers announced the deal, a clip of […]

While the Los Angeles Lakers signed center DeAndre Ayton, obtaining a starting center that was needed coming out of last season, the biggest storyline has been around star LeBron James. With all the rumors surrounding the Lakers and James, this NBA insider provides a certain scenario that would be questionable for the team. After James […]

The Los Angeles Lakers and Deandre Ayton have agreed to a contract after the seven-year veteran was bought out Monday by the Portland Trail Blazers. According to sources close to the team, they’re focus will now shift to wings and further center depth, whether that can be found on the free agency or trade markets. […]

The Los Angeles Lakers finally made a big move in the offseason after signing Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal following his buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers have been in search of a dependable big man since the departure of Anthony Davis. When healthy and motivated, Ayton can provide instant double-doubles for […]

When the Los Angeles Lakers allowed Dorian Finney-Smith to walk in free agency after he opted out of his contract, they suddenly found themselves with the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal. That gave them around $14 million to spend, and it couldn’t have come at a better time as a surprise free agent […]

The Los Angeles Lakers’ recent addition of Deandre Ayton has not only addressed a critical roster need but also added an unexpected layer to LeBron James’ already historic resume. With Ayton’s arrival, James will now have played alongside nine No. 1 overall NBA Draft picks during his career, a staggering stat that only adds to […]

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025 offseason with one goal; sign a starting center. However, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka missed out on his top targets on the first night of free agency. A couple of days later, Los Angeles finally filled the hole, signing former Portland Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton. Ayton […]

The Los Angeles Lakers and Deandre Ayton, the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, have agreed to a 2-year contract in free agency, league sources told ClutchPoints. This contract with Los Angeles contains a player option in the second year, allowing Ayton to potentially maximize his value after the 2025-26 season. Ayton, 26, was […]

The Los Angeles Lakers were immediately linked to Deandre Ayton after news broke that the Portland Trail Blazers were buying him out. ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin reported the Lakers as a “reluctant favorite” for Ayton on Tuesday, and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line later said the “safest forecast” is the big man teaming up with […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have been put on the clock by LeBron James, who, after opting in, said (via his agent Rich Paul) that he and his camp will be assessing the team’s roster and may look for a move elsewhere if the Purple and Gold fail to find the requisite pieces to mold the […]

In an era where centers are now valued more than almost any other position, a former first overall pick who has averaged a double-double for his career and played in a Finals series is a free agent. He hasn’t suffered any major, career-threatening surgeries. He hasn’t had any off-court controversies or criminal activity. He’s just […]

Deandre Ayton is one of the most intriguing NBA free agents on the market this summer, and it looks like the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are the most interested in acquiring his services. By trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic and with their midseason trade for Mark Williams falling apart due to a […]

Since his release from the Portland Trail Blazers, DeAndre Ayton has received serious interest from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. While the move makes sense on paper, the apparent reason why Ayton is available in the first place should concern any team looking to sign him. Following Ayton’s release, details emerged suggesting the […]

The Los Angeles Lakers remain the top suitors for DeAndre Ayton following the center’s buyout with the Portland Blazers. For many, Ayton is best suited to address the Lakers’ needs at center as a rim protector who can clean up around the glass. One NBA insider believes there’s a strong chance, Chris Haynes. Ayton signing […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as the favorite to sign Brook Lopez away from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to sources close to the situation. Lopez, 37, would provide much-needed size and spacing, though the organization is split internally on whether he can still start full-time at this stage of his career. Sources also indicate […]

After trading Jusuf Nurkic in exchange for Colin Sexton, the Charlotte Hornets are lacking a veteran center heading into the offseason. Their perfect replacement could have just recently hit the open market with Deandre Ayton’s recent buyout from the Portland Trailblazers. Ayton averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds in 40 games for the Blazers last […]

Before reaching a buyout with their starting center, the Portland Blazers explored DeAndre Ayton’s market value. However, there was one caveat that threw a wrench into the Blazers’ attempts, leading to a buyout that suddenly launched Ayton to become a sought-after center in free agency. Still, Portland reportedly tried to land a deal centered around […]

After reaching a buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers, DeAndre Ayton becomes a top free-agent center ahead of the busiest time of the year for NBA executives. One of the few teams mentioned as early as a potential suitor is the Los Angeles Lakers, whom ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins agrees could help LeBron James and […]

Less than 24 hours before the start of NBA free agency, an intriguing name was added to the mix for teams to battle for. Deandre Ayton, the first pick from the 2018 NBA Draft, is finalizing a buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers and will be free to sign with any team in the […]

After a historic NBA title run in 2024 and a bitterly fought campaign in 2025 that fell just short, the Boston Celtics found themselves at a crossroads. With a core led by Jayson Tatum, who is out for the majority of the new season, and Jaylen Brown, they had built a roster that was the […]

The 2025 NBA free agency period doesn’t officially begin until Monday, but several teams have already agreed in principle to new contracts with their own free agents as permitted by the league’s CBA. But as of Sunday evening, a surprising name hit the free agent market. The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a contract buyout […]

On Sunday night, amid the Portland Trail Blazers’ logjam at center, they decided to agree with Deandre Ayton on a contract buyout — sending Ayton to free agency. And just as fate would have it, there is a team in desperate need of a starting-caliber center in the Los Angeles Lakers, who may have just […]

The Portland Trail Blazers made a big and surprising move before free agency begins, as they came to an agreement on a buyout with one of their centers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN,” Charania […]

The Portland Trail Blazers had a logjam at the center position long before they drafted yet another big man in the 2025 NBA Draft. The selection of Yang Hansen all but assures that the Trail Blazers have to trade Deandre Ayton. One team that now has a hole at the five spot after draft day […]