After a massive buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, Deandre Ayton is now moving his sights to the California scene as he is slated to join the Los Angeles Lakers in their pursuit of a league title this season. With the center position being a huge concern for the 2020 champions, Ayton’s addition is expected to be a huge boon for their winning chances now more than ever.

It can be remembered that the Lakers moved on from Anthony Davis when they pulled the trigger to make a blockbuster trade that sent the Los Angeles big man to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. This left the Lakers bare in the center position – with Jaxon Hayes, a power forward, filling in for the void left by Davis’ absence. That lack of positional depth in the center spot has led to the team’s first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Portland committing to its young core, Ayton’s exit comes as a timely move for both teams. Now the big man is going to play alongside LeBron James and Doncic as the main trio for the squad while also hoping to reposition themselves in the Western Conference for a massive finish once more.

A Lakers Redemption

The Lakers were heavily criticized for not being able to bring in a center by the trade deadline of the 2024-25 season. Sure, they ended up as the third seed in the rough Western Conference, but then they lost in five games to the Timberwolves – who fielded a double big lineup of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.

It can be remembered that it was Gobert’s massive performance and dominance in the paint in that Game 5 loss for the Lakers that was led to the team’s strong need to find a massive big man who can prove to be a huge force in the paint.

In the 2024-25 season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 56.6% shooting per game, which says a lot about his efficient impact on the Lakers, provided that he plays the same way. It all means that the former Blazers big should fit in well moving forward as Los Angeles now eyes to see a new hope to prove that they are still one of the biggest teams to watch in the league.

Domin-Ayton in LA?

Ayton is one of the top players who is still just entering his prime years. At the age of 26 – he is of the same Draft Class as his teammate Luka Doncic, who is another young prodigy who is even pegged to become the face of the league at this point in time. We all know how Ayton has been able to prove his worth over the years, especially in his 2021 Finals run.

Considering the fact that he plays the same way as he did with the Blazers, the Lakers are getting a pivotal piece now more than ever. The former Phoenix Suns big man agreed to have his contract bought out by Portland, which means he will be paid more than $25 million by the Blazers while playing for the Lakers next year.

Without Davis, the Lakers ran pretty much the second half of the 2024-25 season without a true big man who could grind his way in the paint and come up with impressive runs on the boards. That’s the same level of expectation that Ayton will find his way in moving forward.