The Lakers have been the main character in a bunch of storylines this summer and the Deandre Ayton decision is just the latest (plus some info on why Jake LaRavia chose the Lakers) https://t.co/NuNdzMhAHX— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 1, 2025
Lakers are once again at the center of the NBA offseason
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July 1, 2025 1 Comment
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
LA’s target list, which began the day with Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and Ayton on it, quickly shrank to one by the early evening with Lopez agreeing to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and Capela heading to Houston via a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
Ayton was clearly the team’s top priority. He was picked first in the same draft as Dončić, shares an agency with Dončić under Bill Duffy, who heads WME basketball, and is best equipped to give the Lakers the rolling lob threat Dončić has thrived alongside. Signing Ayton is not without risk – The Athletic’s Jason Quick detailed those in his piece on Ayton’s time with the Blazers — but a return to high-stakes basketball at a critical juncture in his career combined with a point guard who can prop up centers who are way less talented certainly makes this seem worth it.
However, there’s competition. The Milwaukee Bucks, who lost Lopez to the Clippers in free agency, are trying to remain competitive and have access to the full mid-level exception after some cap creativity and a need for a center — giving them the ability to offer roughly $6 million more than the Lakers.
That means the Lakers remain in the middle of one of free agency’s biggest storylines.
And with a team that still has a sale to close, an extension to finalize with Dončić and the handling of James’ final chapters all still to come, they’re probably not going anywhere.