In a move that is already sending shockwaves across the NBA landscape, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially announced the signing of veteran center Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract. The acquisition of the 7-footer marks a significant addition to the Lakers’ frontcourt, injecting new size, rebounding, and offensive presence into a roster that has been laser-focused on competing for a championship in the 2025-26 NBA season. For Ayton, it is a fresh chapter in one of the league’s most storied franchises; for the Lakers, it’s a calculated, high-upside gamble on a player who was once a No. 1 overall pick and remains just 26 years old.
Deandre Ayton’s road to Los Angeles has been anything but smooth. Drafted first overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2018 ahead of stars like Luka Dončić and Trae Young, Ayton entered the league with sky-high expectations. In flashes, he delivered on them. He averaged a double-double in each of his first three seasons, showing an elite blend of mobility, touch around the rim, and rebounding prowess. He was instrumental in Phoenix’s 2021 NBA Finals run, anchoring the defense and providing timely scoring on pick-and-rolls with Chris Paul. However, despite his undeniable talent, Ayton’s tenure in Phoenix was often marred by inconsistency, friction with coaches, and a perceived lack of fire that sometimes made his impact less than the sum of his parts.
In 2023, Ayton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks and shook up the balance of power in the league. In Portland, Ayton had the opportunity to be a focal point on a young, rebuilding team. He posted solid numbers—averaging 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game—but questions about his long-term fit in a locker room built around dynamic young guards like Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons lingered. Portland, looking to continue its youth movement and open up cap flexibility, declined to match offers for Ayton this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
That’s when Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office made their move. With the franchise still searching for the right pieces to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers saw in Ayton a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. The contract—two years for $16.6 million—is notably team-friendly for a player of Ayton’s talent level, a reflection of the shifting market and the former No. 1 pick’s need to reestablish his value. It is, in every sense, a prove-it deal, one that allows Ayton to show he belongs on the game’s biggest stages while giving the Lakers a potential game-changing big man off the bench or in a starting role, depending on how things unfold.
The Lakers’ front office has made no secret of their strategy heading into this offseason: get younger, get more athletic, and build a roster capable of enduring the grind of an 82-game season and a long playoff run. While LeBron James continues to defy Father Time, and Anthony Davis remains one of the league’s premier two-way players when healthy, the Lakers have struggled with depth in the frontcourt. Last season saw the team rotate through big men like Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, and others, searching for consistency and physicality in the paint. None of those players provided a long-term answer. In Ayton, the Lakers may have found one.
Defensively, Ayton offers rim protection, solid pick-and-roll coverage, and the ability to switch on the perimeter in certain matchups—an attribute head coach JJ Redick is expected to lean into. Offensively, Ayton thrives in the mid-range and around the basket. While he lacks the stretch ability that some modern bigs bring, his soft hands, finishing touch, and vertical spacing provide new dimensions to a Lakers offense that at times stagnated outside of LeBron’s shot creation. Pairing Ayton in lineups with Davis gives the Lakers two towering presences on the floor, and Ayton’s arrival could even allow Davis to shift to power forward more often—his preferred position—reducing the physical toll on the oft-injured star.
The locker room component will be key to Ayton’s success in Los Angeles. He joins a team with a clearly defined leadership hierarchy, led by LeBron and Davis, as well as an emerging voice in guard Austin Reaves. Under JJ Redick, who is entering his first season as an NBA head coach, the Lakers are looking to establish a new culture rooted in accountability, communication, and modern offensive principles. For Ayton, this could be the best environment yet to realize his full potential. Surrounded by veterans, a supportive structure, and a coach with a strong vision, the pressure is real—but so is the opportunity.
