Lakers to sign veteran center Deandre Ayton after Blazers buyout

The Los Angeles Lakers have secured the services of Deandre Ayton, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, with the veteran big man expected to join the Purple and Gold on a two-year deal.

Marc Stein was first to indicate that league insiders anticipated Ayton would head to L.A. once he officially cleared waivers at 5 p.m. ET. Shortly after, Jake Fischer added that the contract will be worth $16.6 million, with a player option for the second year. Factor in his $25.6 million buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Ayton is set to pocket over $34 million next season.

Ayton, who was released by Portland earlier this week, had one year left on the four-year, $132.9 million deal he inked with the Phoenix Suns. He landed in Portland last September as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, with a fresh start in Los Angeles, the 25-year-old center will aim to reignite his career in a contending setup alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Deandre Ayton is set to rake in $34 million next season, with his earnings split between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old big man reached a buyout agreement with Portland on Sunday night, after his camp approached the front office about finding a more competitive environment — especially as the team continues to develop its crop of young centers.

Despite his exit, Ayton left a strong impression in Portland. According to reports, several teams did their homework on the former No. 1 pick, and GM Joe Cronin received glowing feedback about Ayton’s maturity and leadership, particularly his mentorship of rising star Donovan Clingan.

Now officially a Laker, Ayton will step into the starting center role in L.A., pairing up with fellow 2018 draft classmate Luka Doncic, a reunion of sorts for the Nos. 1 and 3 overall picks who’ve maintained a bond since entering the league.

After clearing waivers on Wednesday, Ayton took time to weigh his options, with the Pacers, Knicks, Clippers, Bucks, Cavaliers, and Nuggets all expressing interest. Ultimately, he chose the Lakers, where he’ll look to bolster a frontcourt in need of size and stability. Last season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 boards, and shot an efficient 56.6% from the field, numbers the Lakers will hope to build on as they retool for a playoff push.

Deandre Ayton's move to Los Angeles addresses the Lakers' most pressing offseason hole, a true big man presence. The 7-footer gives the Lakers a long-overdue vertical threat for LeBron James and Luka Doncic to feed above the rim. While Ayton isn’t exactly a defensive anchor, his size alone brings sorely needed rim protection and interior presence, something L.A. has lacked since dealing Anthony Davis to Dallas in the blockbuster Doncic swap.

Set to turn 27 later this month, Ayton began his career in Phoenix, where he spent five seasons before landing in Portland via the three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee in 2023.

Though his time in Portland was uneven, hampered by team struggles and injuries, Ayton's career numbers speak for themselves. Across seven NBA seasons, he's put up 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and shot an efficient 59% from the floor. Last year, his campaign was cut short after just 40 games due to a calf strain, but when healthy, Ayton remains one of the league’s more reliable double-double machines. The Lakers are banking on that upside to help drive their next playoff push.