Deandre Ayton Expected to Sign With Western Conference Team In Need of Center Depth

While Ayton is expected to clear waivers and officially enter free agency on Wednesday, insiders within the league have been speculating on what team the 26-year-old big man is going to sign with, as he's already narrowed his search to a specific group of teams in the league.

Legion Hoops reported on the situation while expecting the big man to make his decision today, saying, "Rival teams expect Deandre Ayton to sign with the Lakers after he clears waivers," according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.

After getting drafted with the No. 1 selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, Deandre Ayton has already been with teams that have played at the highest stages in the league.

Ayton helped lead the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021, but would fall short to the MIlwaukee Bucks.

The seven foot, 252-pound center would join a Lakers squad that has been in need of a center after Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in February for Luka Doncic.

In 398 games played in his career, Ayton has avereaged 16.4 PTS, 10.5 REB, and 1.0 BLK while playing for the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers.

If Deandre Ayton was to join the Los Angeles Lakers, he would join the team alongside Luke Doncic and LeBron James in pursuit to the franchise's 18th NBA championship.