LOS ANGELES Lakers has found their starting center by agreeing to a contract with former top-overall pick Deandre Ayton, according to a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The 7-foot Ayton, who led Phoenix Suns to a runner up finish in the 2021 season, will sign a two-year contract worth $34 million, which includes a player option, with the Lakers.
Ayton’s representatives — Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Sports — reached the agreement with Lakers president Rob Pelinka on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines).
The move follows a buyout agreement finalized between Ayton and Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week in light of the 26-year-old big man’s desire to compete in a winning environment.
Despite interest from multiple teams, Ayton ultimately chose the Lakers after clearing waivers on Wednesday and meeting with several franchises since the start of NBA free agency.
The acquisition also came after the Lakers failed to strike a deal with their earlier targets Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Myles Turner, who went with Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively.
In Los Angeles, Ayton is expected to take over the starting center role an will team up with fellow 2018 NBA Draft pick Luka Doncic, who was acquired by the Lakers earlier this year from Dallas Mavericks.
Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season with the Tral Blazers while shooting 56.6% from the field for his seventh consecutive season of averaging double-double.
In other league developments, free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie has agreed to a one-year contract with Charlotte Hornets.
Dinwiddie’s former Dallas backcourt partner Dante Exum, on the other hand, has opted to stay with the Mavericks on a one-year extension./PN
