Several fans have already linked Deandre Ayton to his next NBA team.
On Sunday, Ayton and the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a buyout that would make him a free agent this offseason. The 27-year-old center was slated to make $35.6 million from the Blazers next season, but will instead secure some of that payday from a different team.
Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, won’t have any shortage of suitors. But many believe one seems like the logical landing spot for the polarizing big man: the Los Angeles Lakers.
Posts linking Ayton to the Lakers immediately started trending once news of his buyout became public.
WOW LAKER
— Jake (@playoffjake) June 30, 2025
LAKER
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 30, 2025
Lakers get Ayton for free. Not bad.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) June 30, 2025
Even established NBA reporters were peddling the Ayton-to-LA idea.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 30, 2025
It’s not uncommon that purple and gold supporters push their team as a potential landing spot for any unhappy All-Star or top free agent in the market, even for moves that are either financially or logically impossible. But the Ayton-Lakers match does make sense.
The Lakers have been desperate to land a center since the team gave up Anthony Davis in the Luka Doncic trade. The botched Mark Williams deal and succeeding Lakers flameout in the first round of the playoffs only amplified the team’s dire need at the five spot.
With minimal assets left to trade, the Lakers did not appear to have many good options to solve their center problem this offseason. But with Ayton coming off a $35.6 million buyout, the Lakers could land him for cheap.
The Arizona alum could feasibly sign a short-term deal with the Lakers to rebuild his market value and score another big contract next offseason. Ayton would feast as a rim-running option in a Lakers offense run by LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Through seven NBA seasons, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds on 59% shooting.
