NBA free agency is alive and well, but the Los Angeles Lakers have mostly stayed quiet. Sure, they’ve signed Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million contract. Yet, that’s not the type of signing that will help lead LeBron James and Luka Doncic to the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to find a new starting center, and many of the best ones have already signed elsewhere. We’ve seen Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, and Clint Capela all come off the board in the first two days.
However, one of the Lakers’ biggest targets still remains, and the Lakers’ chances to sign him may be increasing.
According to ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst, now that the Milwaukee Bucks have signed Turner, it could pave the way toward the Lakers signing Deandre Ayton as their new starting center.
Los Angeles Lakers Best Fit For Deandre Ayton
“The Lakers were competing with the Bucks for Deandre Ayton, and so this leaves Deandre Ayton to go to the Lakers to be their starting center as a possible ramification of this.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Los Angeles Lakers/Deandre Ayton
Ayton is arguably the best center available in NBA free agency. While he may not help provide further floor spacing, he gobbles up rebounds like he needs them for fuel. Ayton has never averaged fewer than 10 rebounds a game since arriving as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
If signed, Ayton, who’s still just 26 years old, gives the Lakers a chance to fill their need for a starting center for many years to come. Coming off a season in which he was limited to just 40 games, Ayton may even come at a more reasonable rate than the Lakers were expecting to spend on a big this offseason.
Related: Los Angeles Lakers ‘Zeroed In’ on This Top All-Star NBA Free Agent