-
Dave McMenamin
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Greater than seven years after being chosen two spots forward of Luka Doncic within the NBA Draft, 2018 No. 1 decide Deandre Ayton was amazed Tuesday when he was launched as Doncic’s latest Los Angeles Lakers teammate.
“This appears like a online game, like someone set it up,” Ayton, decked out in an all-black go well with, mentioned at his introductory information convention. “This is a chance that I will not take with no consideration. Luka is a once-in-a-generation participant, and I am completely happy to be his teammate. Listening to concerning the form of form he is been in, he is tremendous ripped, and I am lastly glad to be on his facet.”
Whereas a slimmed-down Doncic may definitely assist the Lakers within the hyper-competitive Western Convention subsequent season, Ayton’s arrival may very well be much more consequential.
Lakers president of basketball operations and normal supervisor Rob Pelinka recognized the middle place because the staff’s prime want for the offseason. Ayton, 26, stands 7-foot, 250 kilos with profession averages of 16.4 factors on 59.0% taking pictures, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.
He agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million take care of a participant possibility for the second 12 months, sources instructed ESPN, after being purchased out of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
As soon as a key cog on a Phoenix Suns staff that was two wins away from profitable the 2021 NBA Finals and adopted that up with a 64-win season, Ayton admitted that his time in Portland — the place the Blazers received 57 video games mixed over their previous two campaigns — was a problem.
“I really feel just like the Lakers had been the perfect place [for me],” Ayton mentioned. “They need to win a championship proper now, and I need to win proper now as properly and simply be a part of a profitable legacy and be round winners. … The final two years was only a totally different route for me and I simply realized quite a bit that when you do not win on this league, you may be forgotten.”
And any uncertainty concerning the Lakers being led by Doncic and LeBron James as soon as once more subsequent season was seemingly forgotten about contained in the Lakers’ follow facility Monday. Ayton and ahead Jake LaRavia, who additionally was launched after signing a two-year, $12 million contract with L.A. in free company, repeatedly referred to how they plan to suit with the 2 stars.
“They each common about 9 assists over their profession span,” Ayton mentioned. “They flip [their teammates] into superstars, they make them larger than their roles, they make them crucial on the ground.”
Added LaRavia: “Loads of clearly actually, actually good gamers on this staff, Luka and LeBron. Excessive IQ gamers which have been within the league a very long time. I am simply excited to get with them and be taught.”
Final month, James opted in to the ultimate 12 months of his contract with Los Angeles value $52.6 million. Following the contract resolution, which arrange James to play a league-record twenty third season, his agent and Klutch Sports activities CEO, Wealthy Paul, instructed ESPN’s Shams Charania that the four-time MVP can be intently monitoring L.A.’s subsequent strikes.
“LeBron needs to compete for a championship,” Paul instructed ESPN. “He is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term. He understands that, however he values a sensible likelihood of profitable all of it.”
Since Paul’s assertion, Los Angeles traded up within the second spherical to draft rugged ahead Adou Thiero out of Arkansas, signed Ayton and LaRavia, and re-signed heart Jaxson Hayes.
As for Doncic, come Aug. 2, the Lakers can supply him a four-year, $229 million extension. Doncic may additionally choose to signal a three-year, $165 million extension with a participant possibility in 2028, in keeping with ESPN NBA entrance workplace insider Bobby Marks, which might then permit him to signal a max deal in 2028 that will give him 35% of the staff’s wage cap for 5 seasons.
The Lakers’ roster is presently at max capability, with 15 gamers signed. Reserve guard Shake Milton’s $3 million contract for subsequent season turns into absolutely assured July 20 and backup Jordan Goodwin’s $2.3 million contract is assured for under $25,000 up till the primary day of the common season, in keeping with Marks.