On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly agreed the signing of Deandre Ayton. The center arrives to fill a key role on the team and further boost the championship hopes of LeBron James and Luka Doncic heading into the 2025–26 NBA season.
The news was shared by Shams Charania on his official X account. The NBA insider also included details about the contract the 26-year-old will have in this new chapter of his professional career. “Between Portland and L.A., Ayton will earn $34 million next season.”
One of the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest weaknesses during last season was the lack of a true big man. In the first half of the campaign, it was usually Anthony Davis who played center—even though it’s not the position he’s most comfortable in or where he’s delivered his best performances.
And after AD’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks, things got even more complicated. Dorian Finney-Smith was forced to play center during some of the team’s most crucial games—a role he simply doesn’t have the physical tools or skillset to fill.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic fell short of delivering a deep playoff run in their first season together with the Lakers.
That mismatch was especially evident in the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Los Angeles had no answer for Rudy Gobert—one of the key reasons behind their early first-round exit.
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The Lakers’ starting five with Ayton
With the addition of Deandre Ayton to the roster, head coach JJ Redick now has another critical piece to help shape the team and compete in the Western Conference. The Lakers’ starting five now looks extremely competitive, with Doncic and Austin Reaves as guards, LeBron and Rui Hachimura as forwards, and Ayton anchoring the paint.
Here’s the projected starting lineup Redick will have at his disposal for the 2025–26 season:
* Point guard: Luka Doncic
* Shooting guard: Austin Reaves
* Small forward: LeBron James
* Power forward: Rui Hachimura
* Center: Deandre Ayton
Ayton’s track record
Deandre Ayton will be entering his eighth NBA season with the Lakers. He burst onto the scene at age 20 with the Phoenix Suns during the 2018–19 season, delivering surprisingly strong performances that earned him a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. However, he failed to take the next step and establish himself as a true superstar.
In 2023, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers, where—despite being a regular starter—he struggled to find consistency in his game. In his first season, he played in 55 of 82 games, and in the most recent campaign, he didn’t even reach the halfway mark.
As a result, a few weeks ago Portland and Ayton reached a buyout agreement that made him a free agent—a move the franchise took, according to The Athletic, due to repeated disciplinary issues involving the player.
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