The Los Angeles Lakers made their biggest move of the offseason official Sunday, signing center Deandre Ayton to a two-year $16.6 million deal after his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers. Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wasted no time explaining how the 7-footer will solve the team’s most glaring weakness heading into the 2025-26 season.
Ayton committed to joining superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is expected to start immediately for a Lakers team that struggled mightily in the frontcourt during its first-round playoff exit.
How Will Ayton Fix the Lakers’ Center Problem?
The Lakers’ center position was a disaster in the 2025 playoffs. Jaxson Hayes couldn’t handle a starting role, forcing coach JJ Redick to go small for most of their five-game first-round loss. The lack of size hurt them on both ends, with opponents dominating the paint while the Lakers struggled to establish an interior presence.
Pelinka made it clear Sunday that finding a starting center was their top priority this offseason. “Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” Pelinka said.
Rob Pelinka on the signing of Deandre Ayton:
“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” Lakers President of Basketball…
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) July 7, 2025
Ayton brings exactly what the Lakers lacked: size, athleticism, and proven production. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 56.6% this past season with Portland. More importantly, he gives them a serviceable rim protector and someone who can finish around the basket consistently.
Pelinka highlighted Ayton’s versatility on both ends of the floor. “Deandre’s size, mobility and athleticism will allow both paint scoring and paint protection,” Pelinka said. The Lakers struggled with interior defense all season, ranking 18th in opponent field goal percentage in the paint. Ayton’s presence should immediately improve those numbers.
Why Did Dončić Push for This Partnership?
The connection between Ayton and Dončić goes deeper than just basketball fit. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Dončić specifically wanted to team up with Ayton because of his NBA Finals experience and their personal relationship.
“The proven success, Ayton’s role on that 2021 Suns team, is one of the reasons why Dončić is eager about teaming up,” Woike wrote on Thursday. “The two also share an agency, WME, headed by Bill Duffy, and got ready for that 2018 draft in the same hotel room.”
That 2021 finals run with Phoenix is exactly the kind of experience Pelinka values. While Ayton missed the playoffs during his two seasons in Portland, he was a key contributor for three straight playoff teams with the Suns, including their run to the finals four years ago.
“Deandre’s playoff experience as a starter on an NBA Finals team also aligns well with our ultimate Lakers championship aspirations,” Pelinka said. That experience should prove valuable as the Lakers try to make a deeper postseason run after winning 50 games in 2024-25.
The Lakers now have the interior presence they desperately needed. Ayton’s ability to score in the paint, rebound, and protect the rim gives them a completely different look than the small-ball lineups they were forced to use in the playoffs. With Dončić and James creating opportunities, Ayton should have plenty of chances to showcase the skills that made him the top pick seven years ago.
The new-look Lakers will enter the 2025-26 season with championship expectations and finally have the frontcourt depth to match their backcourt talent. Ayton’s two-way impact could be the missing piece that takes them from a first-round exit to a legitimate title contender in the loaded Western Conference.
