LeBron James may not call the shots with the Los Angeles Lakers anymore.
But they also couldn’t let any of these trade rumors go on without putting up a fight.
And so that meant that on Wednesday, less than an hour after Deandre Ayton cleared waivers, the Lakers signed him. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the news.
The Trail Blazers bought out Ayton earlier in the week in a move that surprised many. The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds last season.
Other reports soon came out that weren’t flattering about Ayton’s presence on a team.
But the reality was that the Lakers couldn’t let him get away.
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They’d missed out on Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and more in the free agent center market. It was pretty much Ayton or bust, unless they wanted Al Horford.
Now, Ayton is locked in. The Lakers have their starting center.
The position was their downfall in the 2025 stretch run after they traded Anthony Davis to get Luka Doncic. It was the right move, but it left them lacking on the interior.
Now, they have someone with a great pedigree and lots of talent. Playing with LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves should certainly help to get the most out of Ayton.
If the Lakers are going to win another championship with James, this was simply the move they had to do.
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