Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Between the Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers, Ayton will make $34 million next season.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets were interested in Ayton.
Reporting for @SportsCenter on the Lakers and Deandre Ayton reaching agreement on a two-year deal: pic.twitter.com/UfGlPYalwF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2025
In 40 games for the Trail Blazers last season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 56.6% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line.
Ayton has career averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds. He helped the Phoenix Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021.
“Multiple teams reached out to Blazers general manager Joe Cronin to conduct background on Ayton and received strong reviews surrounding Ayton’s leadership and mentoring of big men such as Donovan Clingan,” Charania wrote.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. They didn’t have a center to contain Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
Los Angeles is projected to start Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Ayton next season under second-year head coach JJ Redick.
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