Deandre Ayton has reached an agreement to join the Los Angeles Lakers, according to several sources. The former top overall pick finds a fresh start after being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and now landing with the Lakers, who hope he will be a valuable addition at the center position following the initial phase of signings in the NBA’s 2025 free agency period.
The contract, reported by Jake Fisher, is a two-year deal worth $16.6 million, including a player option for the second year. Ayton is set to earn a total of $33.7 million this season, with $8.1 million from the Lakers and $25.6 million stemming from his acquisition by Portland.
This signing addresses a critical need for the Lakers, strengthening their center position alongside stars like LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Louis Williams, and Austin Reaves. Ayton’s move marks another new chapter for him after his 27th birthday on July 23rd and his 21 months in Portland, where he was traded for Jusuf Nurkić, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.
Ayton played a significant complementary role with Devin Booker and Chris Paul during the Suns’ 2021 NBA Finals run, averaging 16.7 points on 59.7% shooting and 10.4 rebounds per game across five seasons in Phoenix. However, reports suggested friction with former head coach Monty Williams and other team members, along with struggles to consistently play with the physicality and power his size and athleticism promised. After the Suns matched an offer sheet from the Pacers and opted for a roster overhaul, Ayton’s departure was seen as a strategic subtraction for the team’s future.
Following Ayton’s exit, the Suns suffered setbacks, failing to advance past the first round of the 2024 playoffs and missing the 2025 postseason amid a brief and difficult era with Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, Ayton’s performance with Portland has been somewhat inconsistent during its rebuilding phase, maintaining solid but not spectacular averages of 15.7 points on 56.9% shooting and 10.7 rebounds over 31.5 minutes per game.
He showed flashes of rhythm and comfort late in the 2023-24 season, averaging nearly 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals plus blocks over 25 games, shooting 59% from the floor. However, last season’s impact was less convincing, with averages of 14.4 points per game and a 66.7% free throw percentage. Analyst Adrian Bernecich noted a troubling pattern of inconsistency amid productive stretches.
After suffering a left calf injury in early February, Ayton did not return to the court for Portland, and the team, which secured the No. 7 pick in 2024 (Donovan Klingan) and looks ahead to 2025 (Chinese big man Yang Hansen), no longer considers him part of its long-term plans. Reports from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto indicated that while multiple teams showed interest, none took on Ayton’s long-term salary, leading to a deal where Ayton accepted $10 million on a $35.6 million guaranteed contract next season, aiming to find a team and situation where he can thrive.
Ayton’s natural gifts remain unquestioned—his soft touch around the basket, a 7-foot-6 wingspan, and a 9-foot-3 standing reach, which can make him a strong rim protector and inside presence. His balance and agility make him a fluid athlete on both ends of the court. The central question is whether he can harness these talents fully and commit to the consistency and seriousness required to maximize his impact on a team not built around him.
Seven years after being the No. 1 pick, Ayton now enters his third NBA team, one that may finally offer him the chance to unify his skills and fulfill his early promise. This fresh start could be pivotal.
Fan Take: This signing is significant for basketball fans because Ayton’s blend of talent and potential could reshape the Lakers’ frontcourt and overall dynamic. If he can find consistency in Los Angeles, it could elevate the team’s competitiveness and offer a compelling storyline about perseverance and transformation in the NBA.
