Luka Doncic and LeBron James are getting the help they’ve been wanting. A former number-one pick is signing with the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by superstar duo Luka Doncic and LeBron James, are finally getting the desired reinforcement at the center position.
The legendary NBA franchise has secured the services of big man Deandre Ayton in Free Agency (transfer window for players without a contract). NBA insider Shams Charania first reported about the move.
Ayton, former number-one pick of the 2018 draft, had only recently agreed to a contract buyout with his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, waiving part of his salary.
What Ayton brings to the Lakers
The Lakers will only pay the 26-year-old nine million dollars in the upcoming season, with another 25 million coming from Portland. He is signing a two-year, 17 million dollar contract with the Lakers, with a player option for the second year.
The 2.13-meter-tall Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in his seven seasons in the NBA. His effectiveness is particularly impressive, converting a strong 59 percent of his shot attempts over his career. Most recently, however, Ayton was rarely able to truly convince despite good statistics.
Last season, Ayton only played 40 games for Portland, the second fewest of his career, and overall he only played in 95 of a possible 164 games in the last two seasons.
The Lakers were already desperately looking for a new starter at the five position last season. However, a trade of Mark Williams had failed the medical check.
With Ayton, an almost optimal solution has now been found to help the team offensively and defensively in rebounding and under the basket. The playoff defeat against Minnesota had ruthlessly exposed the Lakers’ weakness under the basket.