Pacers, Knicks, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Bucks Were Interested In Deandre Ayton, Who Signed With Lakers Because Of Luka Doncic

The Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks were interested in Deandre Ayton, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ayton chose the Lakers because of Luka Doncic.

“Deandre Ayton received exploratory interest from the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks (before agreeing to a deal with Myles Turner) before joining the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told HoopsHype,” Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported.

“Ayton ultimately decided the Lakers were the best basketball fit and allowed him the opportunity to join forces with Luka Doncic, who’s the same age and considered the best playmaker in the NBA in Ayton’s eyes.

“Following success playing with guards such as Chris Paul and Ricky Rubio in Phoenix, Ayton hopes to recreate that playmaking chemistry with Doncic.”

Between the Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers, Ayton will make $34 million next season. 

Doncic and Ayton have the same agent. Ayton was the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, while Doncic was the third pick. 

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.  

Doncic can sign a contract extension with the Lakers on August 2 for as much as four years and $229 million. The superstar can also agree to a two-year extension to get him to 10 years of service in the summer of 2028, when he could sign a five-year max contract at 35% of the salary cap to maximize his earnings.

Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers last season after the Dallas Mavericks traded him in February. The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the Minnesota Timberwolves series.

The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games despite having Doncic and LeBron James. They didn’t have a center to stop Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid.