Report: ‘All signs pointing’ to Deandre Ayton landing with Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to countless big men this offseason as part of their hunt to fix their frontcourt woes, but it appears that one name in particular may be worth keeping an extra close eye on.

According to a report, there is a “strong possibility” of center Deandre Ayton landing with the Lakers.

“That is a strong possibility, strong possibility,” Haynes said when asked if the Lakers will land Ayton. “… If they’re able to land this, which again, sources have told me this is a strong possibility, you will pair him up with Luka Doncic, who was in his draft class.

“… I think it makes sense just for the route that the Lakers are trying to go, and they’re trying — this is Luka’s team. And they want to build for him. They wanna have guys around the same age that can go where he goes. And so, I think you’re looking at the future of what the Lakers are trying to do.”

Hayes stopped short of confirming that Ayton will land with the Lakers but said that “all signs are pointing in that direction.”

Ayton is a newer name being linked to the Purple and Gold, as he and the Portland Trail Blazers recently agreed to a buyout that will allow him to land somewhere new.

The 7-footer has his flaws, but he would certainly upgrade L.A.’s center situation and give the team a chance to be more of a threat in the 2025-26 season.

Ayton, who was the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns, has averaged a double-double in every season of his NBA career to this point. This past season wasn’t his best from a scoring standpoint, but he still averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 block per game.

He has had a decent career for a top pick but hasn’t evolved into the star that many thought he would become. Effort concerns are among the question marks that have followed Ayton during his career. He reportedly wants to be in a winning situation, so perhaps a chance with a team like the Lakers would motivate him.

He is 26 and will turn 27 soon. Doncic is also 26. If Ayton were to evolve into a long-term piece with L.A. and perhaps tap into some more of the potential that made him the top pick some years ago, he could become a big addition for the Lakers.

But as of now, nothing is settled, and the Lakers can’t let their foot off the gas until their frontcourt situation looks undeniably different from the way it did to finish this past season.