RealGM

Teams around the NBA are monitoring the situation of the Portland Trail Blazers' Afernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III, and Deandre Ayton, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

All four players will be on expiring contracts next season.

Williams has been the frequent target of trade rumors since getting traded to the Blazers. 

The Blazers recently extended general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups. 

Via Marc Stein & Jake Fischer/The Stein Line

I imagine the Lakers will go after Ayton. Instant upgrade over Hayes.

Revived wrote:I imagine the Lakers will go after Ayton. Instant upgrade over Hayes.

It would be pretty difficult for the Lakers to fit Ayton's $35 million salary for next season into their payroll structure... and while he is an NBA quality player, he hasn't done much since signing that big contract to suggest he's worth that kind of money. If he was a free agent right now, he'd probably command something around the mid-level exception. Also, other than that one 1st round draft pick, what do the Lakers even have, that they're willing to give up, that the Blazers would even want?

Cyclonus12 wrote:Also, other than that one 1st round draft pick, what do the Lakers even have, that they're willing to give up, that the Blazers would even want?

Ayton’s on an expiring deal so it’s perfect for the lakers to not want a crazy big contract longterm. If he plays well with the lakers then they can extend him for a reasonable deal or if he sucks then let him walk and they can spend the $$ on someone else in free agency. As for what they can trade for him, they can give the Blazers the same package (Kinecht + one first rd pick) they offered the Hornets for Mark Williams. That’s a good deal for the Blazers for an expiring contract. And lakers can add salary cap fillers like Kleber, Rui and Vando (terrible contract that lakers could unload) to make the salaries match. Rui is the only one that plays notable mins out of this trio so lakers wouldn’t be losing much. And DFS could replace Rui’s spot on the starters easily…DFS already has chemistry starting with Luka back on the Mavs too.

Yeah no one’s monitoring Matisse Thybulle and his $12m/year.

Ayton doesn't strike me as a guy that would fit well in JJ's system. I think he prefers rim running, athletic bigs which is partly why Jaxson Hayes looks much better this season than any season prior.

I think the Lakers will be aggressively going after Myles Turner in free agency. If that doesn't work out (I don't expect it to), they'll just re-sign Jaxson is my guess.