When a player stands 7’0″ tall, moves with the grace of a wing, and still rockets for rim‑rattling dunks, expectations follow in tow. That’s Deandre Ayton in a nutshell. A former No. 1 overall pick (2018), whose blend of brute strength, soft touch around the basket and surprising mobility has made him one of the NBA’s most intriguing free‑agent commodities this summer.
After five seasons in Phoenix (2018-23) and a turbulent two‑year stint in Portland (2023-25), Ayton now finds himself in the rarefied position of choosing among title‑hungry suitors. Among them are the storied Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, who are competing to sign the star.
Lakers Make Their Move to Secure Deandre Ayton
On June 29, the Portland Trail Blazers and Ayton agreed to a contract buyout, officially clearing him to hit waivers and become a free agent. As part of that deal, Ayton reportedly forfeited $10 million of the $35.6 million he was owed in 2025‑26 salary, a discount that not only signaled his desire to join a contender but also sweetened the terms for teams with mid‑level exceptions in hand.
Entering his eighth season, Ayton closes the book on a 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds campaign in Portland. It’s one of his lowest scoring averages since his 2020-21 campaign for Phoenix, where he averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds across 69 games. But he still remains coveted for his ability to alter shots, set elite screens and anchor pick‑and‑roll schemes.
Sources tell me that in addition to Deandre Ayton, the Lakers are still evaluating other options in free agency and via trade. Obviously a crucial decision for the Lakers — would expect an answer in the upcoming days.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 1, 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers are acutely aware of their frontcourt deficiency and wasted no time in showing interest in Ayton. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on NBA TV that there is a “strong possibility” that the Lakers will successfully sign Ayton.
For the Los Angeles, pairing Ayton with LeBron James and Luke Doncic offers a tantalizing blend of lob threat. Meanwhile, it is widely expected that Doncic is rumored to sign a massive contract extension with the Lakers.
Yet the Lakers won’t have a clear path. In Milwaukee, the Bucks abruptly let Brook Lopez depart in free agency, leaving a glaring void at center. According to Sports Illustrated, Milwaukee’s front office has crafted cap flexibility, most notably the full mid‑level exception, to offer Ayton more than L.A. can under non‑taxpayer MLE constraints.
Beyond that, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes the Bucks possess a $14.1 million mid‑level slot and a $7.2 million trade exception. This makes Ayton a realistic target for the Bucks. The prospect of pairing Ayton with Giannis Antetokounmpo has some league observers labeling Milwaukee as L.A.’s fiercest competitor.
Celtics, Miami, and 76ers’ Stance on Nabbing Ayton
Meanwhile, despite Boston’s perennial thirst for frontcourt depth, the Celtics appear to be sitting out this particular chase. MassLive reports that Boston is “not expected to have interest in Ayton” at this juncture, opting instead to prioritize the re-signing of Al Horford and maintain payroll flexibility under the luxury‑tax apron. However, several reports suggest that the Boston Celtics may lose Horford.
Sources tell me and @DanWoikeSports that Al Horford is also under serious consideration by the Lakers (in addition to the Warriors). As he says below, this might take some time. https://t.co/kwyL21qduv
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 1, 2025
The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in similar predicaments. Miami, having restructured its roster and locked up key rotation pieces, has scant salary‑cap maneuverability. They are also interested in Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Fastbreak covered that ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, “Detroit is trading Simone Fontecchio to Miami to acquire Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade, sources tell ESPN.”
Philadelphia, fresh off blockbuster moves to bolster its backcourt, also lacks the financial breathing room. Both franchises could theoretically pursue sign‑and‑trade scenarios, but the complexity and asset costs render those paths improbable. Now, Jake Fischer reported that the Indiana Pacers may be interested in signing Ayton.
As the clock ticks, Ayton sweepstakes will become the defining subplot of the 2025 summer. Will the Lakers land the physically dominant big man who could reshape their interior defense? Or will the Bucks outmaneuver Los Angeles with a last‑minute offer that he wouldn’t be able to turn down? Or, will it be a different squad altogether to bag the prize?
