Lakers sign center Deandre Ayton

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The Lakers beef up their frontcourt by adding former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, who leaves the Trail Blazers after they mutually agreed to forgo the final year of his contract and negotiate a buyout

The Los Angeles Lakers and free agent Deandre Ayton agreed to terms on Wednesday, July 2 (Thursday, July 3, Manila time), shortly after the center cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent, according to multiple media reports.

Ayton made headlines in recent days after he and his most recent team, the Portland Trail Blazers, mutually agreed to forgo the final year of his contract and negotiate a buyout, allowing him to reach free agency.

Between money owed to him by Portland and his new deal with Los Angeles, Ayton is set to earn $34 million this season, per reporting from ESPN.

Despite being a seven-year pro with 398 NBA games on his resume, Ayton is still just 26. His birthday is July 23.

A former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game in 398 career games (391 starts). New Lakers teammate Luka Doncic was the No. 3 choice in that same draft.

He was a part of the 2018-19 All Rookie first team, though arguably his greatest achievement as a professional was being part of the Suns team that lost in a memorable series with Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals in 2021.

Portland acquired him as part of a three-team trade with Milwaukee and Phoenix that sent All-Star guard Damian Lillard from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks in September 2023. – Rappler.com