RealGM

After teams around the league demanded high trade prices from the Los Angeles Lakers for available centers, Rob Pelinka turned to Deandre Ayton after he cleared waivers from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Lakers held approximately $8 million from their midlevel exception while watching center options like Brook Lopez and Clint Capela sign elsewhere on the opening night of free agency. Teams with available centers kept their asking prices high when the Lakers called, sources said.

The elevated asking prices stemmed from teams knowing what the Lakers were willing to pay for Mark Williams in February's rescinded trade. That package included 2024 first-rounder Dalton Knecht, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and an unprotected 2030 pick swap.

The proposed Williams trade demonstrated the Lakers' desperation to find a center to pair with Luka Doncic. Five months later, the Lakers still lacked a solution at the position.

Ayton represents a flawed but talented option for the Lakers. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick was waived by Portland despite being on a maximum contract. Sources suggest Ayton could be a positive addition for the Lakers. He is arguably the second-best center to hit the open market this summer behind Myles Turner.

The Lakers also agreed to re-sign Jaxson Hayes as Ayton's backup on Thursday evening. Hayes served as the team's primary traditional center option last season before the Lakers' search for an upgrade.

Via Tim Bontemps, Brian Windhorst/ESPN

as always free gifts from the league solved this problem

Furinkazan wrote:as always free gifts from the league solved this problem

the League made ayton a head case and locker room cancer? or how can i understand your Post?

Furinkazan wrote:as always free gifts from the league solved this problem

Not a free gift if its the player's decision to sign somewhere... Yall really just be yapping and dont know anything about the league. If anything, a free gift was Dallas getting the #1 pick.

Blazers told the Lakers, "sure you can have our starting center, but only if we can still pay his salary!" The league knows Portland has the softest rose-colored glasses fanbase in the league and they'll happily do it if you tell them it was about locker room fit or some other kumbaya nonsense.

ReddOktober wrote:

Furinkazan wrote:as always free gifts from the league solved this problem

Not a free gift if its the player's decision to sign somewhere... Yall really just be yapping and dont know anything about the league. If anything, a free gift was Dallas getting the #1 pick.

The gift was PDX making a max player an UFA.

ReddOktober wrote:

Furinkazan wrote:as always free gifts from the league solved this problem

Not a free gift if its the player's decision to sign somewhere... Yall really just be yapping and dont know anything about the league. If anything, a free gift was Dallas getting the #1 pick.

Dallas got a free gift?

It's like the Anthony Davis trade. Lakers had a backdoor deal to acquire top talent due to their large market, thus needing a star for the NBA's ratings sake

Then the team that sacrificed their player was rewarded with the #1 pick. It's not a gift, it's a reward for doing something they (Dallas/New Orleans) didn't want to do.

Normally they would have to use Reeves to get any solid center ...
sure he may be a cancer...still talent is there ...and if he is kept in check this might end up as a freebie steal ...and these I swear every fkn year only Lakers get...fkn freebies

fLakers problem is the only guy who knows how to play D is too old to do it.

the team will do fine in the regular season, but who are they gonna put on Shae, or Antman, or KD when it matters?

Vuch is on the market GM’s He is like fine wine(cooler).