Ayton Thread Update: Signs with Lakers

[Ilikesports17]

I'd try Ayton cheap and set him as a starter.

Everyone knows if you play good in Boston you will be overpaid your next contract. I can see Ayton avg 22/9/2/3 and someone would give him a Max deal next year. Smart investment if he buys in one year here.

I would love Ayton!

That would actually be something fun and worth looking forward to next season. The first quality interior center Boston has had in a long time. Especially one with an offensive game.

We had Perk who was a defensive center with a limited offensive game. Mark Blount who looked good for a brief period and was disappointing outside. Robert Parish? Was he the last center who could give Boston 15+ppg from interior scoring?

Big Al!

True. True.

Big Al played mostly PF for us though, didn't he?

He didn't play center until after he left Boston. Perk was starting beside him in his final year here.

That?s true. Wild how much the NBA has changed in the last 20 years.

[kraidstar]

I'd try Ayton cheap and set him as a starter.

Everyone knows if you play good in Boston you will be overpaid your next contract. I can see Ayton avg 22/9/2/3 and someone would give him a Max deal next year. Smart investment if he buys in one year here.

I would love Ayton!

That would actually be something fun and worth looking forward to next season. The first quality interior center Boston has had in a long time. Especially one with an offensive game.

We had Perk who was a defensive center with a limited offensive game. Mark Blount who looked good for a brief period and was disappointing outside. Robert Parish? Was he the last center who could give Boston 15+ppg from interior scoring?

Big Al!

Ayton is the Anti-Al

Biggest ego but lowest work ethic on the team

[johnnygreen]

Ayton just signed with the Lakers.

[keevsnick]

Ayton has signed with the Lakers. Its going to be interesting to see how his  "laid back" play style goes over on a LeBron James team. But for only 8 million he's at least way better than anything they had last year.
"

[moiso]

Ayton hurts the Lakers.  They needed a defender, not a lazy dude to go along with all of their other poor defenders.

[Phantom255x]

I ultimately am in the camp that believes it doesn't matter what LAL does, I think deep down Lebron is checked out from that organization. Of course nobody is gonna turn down a 53M player option, but wouldn't surprise me if he sort of just jerks around there or gets "hurt" early and then just milks his rehab. LAL still has roster flaws even with Ayton and there's way too much reliance on Lebron/Doncic. I think Lebron will still go somewhere else to ring chase for a year or two before officially retiring. I doubt he'll retire after this season and I also doubt he'll finish with LAL

[radiohead]

Ayton has signed with the Lakers. Its going to be interesting to see how his  "laid back" play style goes over on a LeBron James team. But for only 8 million he's at least way better than anything they had last year.
"

If Ayton signed for $8M, does that mean Portland just owes him $26M from the original $34M contract that Ayton had before being waived?

Edit: Sorry, it looks like Portland still owes DA $34M and his new contract with the Lakers is 2/$16M.

[tazzmaniac]

Ayton has signed with the Lakers. Its going to be interesting to see how his  "laid back" play style goes over on a LeBron James team. But for only 8 million he's at least way better than anything they had last year.
"

If Ayton signed for $8M, does that mean Portland just owes him $26M from the original $34M contract that Ayton had before being waived?

Edit: Sorry, it looks like Portland still owes DA $34M and his new contract with the Lakers is 2/$16M.

It was reported that the Blazers and Ayton agreed to a 10M reduction for the buyout.  No reason for the Blazers to buy him out if they don't save anything.  Blazers owed Ayton $35,550,814 for the upcoming season. 

Per Shams:

BREAKING: Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Between Portland and L.A., Ayton will earn $34 million next season. Agents Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Sports reached the deal with Lakers president Rob Pelinka.

Per Jake Fischer:

Deandre Ayton's contract with the Lakers is for two years, per source, starting at $8.1 million for this 2025-26 campaign. He's still due $25.6 million from Portland this season, following his buyout from the Trail Blazers.

[Birdman]

Hardly any player wants to play with LeBron, he runs a team & his tenure with the Lakers been an D for me..winning that bubble title is a joke

[Moranis]

Hardly any player wants to play with LeBron, he runs a team & his tenure with the Lakers been an D for me..winning that bubble title is a joke

basically none of this is true.

[tazzmaniac]

Hardly any player wants to play with LeBron, he runs a team & his tenure with the Lakers been an D for me..winning that bubble title is a joke

Lebron isn't running the Lakers.  They didn't offer him an extension so he's on his last year with them and the reporting is he wasn't involved in the Luka trade.  Don't think he has anything to do with the Ayton acquisition. 

The Lakers had their worst 5 year stretch prior to getting Lebron.  They won a championship with Lebron and it doesn't matter how.  Lebron's time with the Lakers was successful just not as successful as they wanted.