Signed, sealed, and delivered! Ayton makes a blockbuster move! Lakers aim to shake up the NBA championship race.

Finally, the wait is over, and thankfully not in vain.

Insider Shams:Ayton has agreed to join the Lakers.

Sports journalist Fischer follows up: Ayton signs a 2-year, $16.6 million contract with the Lakers, including a player option for the second season.

The Lakers’ projected starting lineup for the new season is Doncic + Reaves + James + Hachimura + Ayton—a highly competitive roster aiming at least for the playoffs, and it’s not an exaggeration to say they could challenge the current NBA championship hierarchy.

With Ayton on board, the Lakers’ championship odds have surged to 7th in the league, trailing only the Thunder, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Rockets, Knicks, and Magic.

Excluding the unconventional center Davis, Ayton is likely the strongest center to join the Lakers since Howard in the 2012-13 season.

Born on July 23, 1998, Ayton was the 2018 first overall pick, nearly 27 years old, standing 2.13 meters tall with a 2.27-meter wingspan. Over two seasons with the Trail Blazers, he played 95 regular-season games, averaging 31.5 minutes, 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

In his 7-year NBA career so far, Ayton averages 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1 block per game in the regular season, and 15.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the playoffs. In 2021, he was the key center leading the Suns to the Finals (losing 2-4 to the Bucks), with his only major individual accolade being a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.

Interestingly, despite being a big man who battles inside and scores double digits every season, Ayton’s career averages only 2.3 free throw attempts making 1.8 in the regular season, and 2.4 attempts making 1.6 in the playoffs—quite puzzling. No wonder some mock him for having a “cleanliness” issue with physical contact.

Now that he’s with the Lakers, with Doncic, Reaves, and James feeding him the ball, Ayton’s free throw attempts might even drop further because he just needs to dunk from open positions in various ways, leaving defenders no chance to foul. In some ways, this is a perfect match.

Overall, with Ayton’s physical gifts and three elite passers around him, there’s no concern about his offensive abilities. The real worry is whether his defense will hold up, as he may struggle to anchor the paint. His “mental toughness” is widely known to be lacking, often showing limited effort and enthusiasm on the court.

What do you all think about the Lakers’ prospects for the upcoming season? Grab your keyboards and jump into the comment section for a lively debate!