The Portland Trail Blazers and Deandre Ayton agreed to a buyout at the beginning of the offseason, paving the way for him to become a free agent. Jason Quick of The Athletic reported that the Trail Blazers no longer wanted to deal with Ayton's tardiness, missed appointments, and tantrums (subscription required). What team would?
The Lakers. Los Angeles needed a center and jumped on the opportunity to bring the big man to Hollywood. Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million deal (the second season is an $8.1 million player option).
He wanted to play for a winning team, and he got his wish. How it will play out is to be determined. It could age surprisingly well, or it could turn into a decision that the Lakers wish they could undo. If the same version of Ayton that was in Portland shows up in LA, it could get ugly. There has already been speculation about how he'll pair with JJ Redick, who won't put up with Ayton's antics.
It could be Ayton's last chance to prove he's worthy of being a starting center, so it's in his best interest to take his new role seriously. Is a new environment enough for him to change? That didn't happen in Portland, but maybe it'll happen with a contender.
Lakers' Deandre Ayton signing could turn into a flop
Ayton knows what it's like to play under pressure as a former No. 1 overall pick, but playing in Los Angeles brings a whole new level of pressure, especially when you're playing alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James. It's not championship-or-bust for the Lakers next season, but it doesn't matter because of who they are and who they employ.
How Ayton plays and how he acts on and off the floor will be dissected under a microscope. Self-proclaimed body language experts on social media will analyze every move he makes. Dealing with that isn't anything new to him, but there's a new level to it now.
What the Lakers need is for Ayton to be a team player, committed to doing what it takes to win. Maybe the player who helped the Suns make it to the 2021 NBA Finals will reappear, forming a dynamic duo with Luka. If those things happen, Los Angeles won't have anything to worry about.
Within that lies the issue, though. The Trail Blazers know that the Lakers may very well have a lot to worry about when it comes to Ayton. Will that change in LA? Stay tuned.