Free agent middle Deandre Ayton has agreed to signal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources advised ESPN on Wednesday night time.
Between Portland and L.A., Ayton will earn $34 million subsequent season. Ayton’s brokers, Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports activities and Invoice Duffy of WME Sports activities, reached the cope with Lakers president Rob Pelinka on Wednesday, in response to sources.
Ayton finalized a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night time, along with his representatives approaching the franchise about his want to play in a successful state of affairs and understanding the workforce’s rising variety of younger facilities. A number of groups reached out to Blazers normal supervisor Joe Cronin to conduct background on Ayton and acquired robust opinions surrounding Ayton’s management and mentoring of massive males akin to Donovan Clingan.
In Los Angeles, Ayton will slide into the beginning middle slot, present an anchor and companion with fellow 2018 high choose Luka Doncic with the Lakers. Ayton and Doncic went Nos. 1 and three, respectively, within the 2018 draft, growing a relationship from that class.
Ayton cleared free company waivers on Wednesday night and took a while to satisfy with groups earlier than deciding on the Lakers.
Ayton, who will flip 27 on July 23, averaged 14.4 factors and 10.2 rebounds whereas capturing 56.6% final season.
He’s the primary participant to common no less than 10 factors and 10 rebounds in every of his first seven NBA seasons since Dwight Howard, whose profession started in 2004-05. Ayton is also certainly one of 4 gamers to common no less than 10 factors and 10 rebounds in every of the previous seven seasons, together with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert and Nikola Vucevic.
Ayton was named to the 2018-19 All-Rookie Crew, and he averaged 16.7 factors and 10.4 rebounds whereas capturing 59.7% in his 5 seasons with Phoenix.
Ayton performed solely 40 video games for Portland this previous season, the second fewest of his profession, and he has appeared in solely 95 out of a potential 164 video games over the previous two campaigns.