WOW! Ayton is set to join the Lakers! A Finals-caliber top pick center

Reporter Stein:Many team executives believe Ayton will definitely join the Lakers.

Currently, the Lakers' biggest rival is the Pacers, who can provide Ayton with the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million), while the Lakers had already spent part of that exception signing LaRavia (two years, $12 million), leaving only a partial full mid-level exception available.

In fact, the Pacers were originally uninterested in Ayton, but after Turner signed a 4-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks, they now aim to bring in a big center to fill the roster gap left by his departure.

Ayton, the 2018 top pick, has averaged a double-double every season since his debut. In 2021, he was the key center who helped the Suns reach the Finals at only 26 years old. Thus, he is undoubtedly the biggest star left on this year’s buyout market, especially for a team like the Lakers, who urgently need frontcourt help and are eager to bring him on board.

Of course, Ayton is not flawless, otherwise the Trail Blazers wouldn’t have given up on him. His biggest issue on the court is his reluctance to engage physically and lack of effort. As a big center, he has only averaged 2.3 free throw attempts per game in his NBA career so far. Off the court, there have been reports of him being late to practice and having emotional outbursts...

However, despite Ayton’s many flaws, as the only remaining big center available in this year’s free agency, the Lakers must do everything possible to acquire him, or else they face a disastrously weak offseason that would cast a shadow over the team’s championship hopes next season.

In this year’s playoffs, the Lakers were swept by the Timberwolves in five games mainly due to their weak frontcourt, with no reliable big men available. In Game 5, they even had to play Rui Hachimura at the five spot, which allowed the well-known tough defender Gobert to dominate with 27 points and 24 rebounds for a massive double-double. Therefore, strengthening the center position is the Lakers management’s top priority this summer.

Unfortunately, so far in both the trade and free agent markets, the Lakers have gained almost nothing, with their desired targets being signed by others one after another. The only good news is, as mentioned above, Ayton is very close to bringing his talent to Los Angeles, but until he officially signs, no one can guarantee there won’t be any surprises.

The Lakers management’s ceiling and floor are both insanely perplexing—they can acquire Doncic but can’t land a legitimate big man, which is simply baffling!