Deandre Ayton Expected To Sign With Lakers After He Clears Waivers

Ayton finalized a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent. The center was the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

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 Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021.  

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. 

Ayton is a talented player, but there is a lot of baggage with him. 

“But in the end, they couldn’t live with his bad ways,” Jason Quick of The Athletic reported. “The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort.”

On day one of free agency, the Lakers lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets and signed Jake LaRavia. 

Los Angeles was linked to Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, but Lopez signed with the Los Angeles Clippers and Capela was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Rockets.