During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton played in 40 games. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and a block per game. In 2023-24, he averaged 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and a steal in 55 games.

On Aug. 2, Luka Doncic will be eligible to sign a long-term contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. It may take him some time to actually sign one, as he is spending much of the summer representing his native Slovenia in the upcoming FIBA Eurobasket competition.

On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers addressed their biggest offseason need by signing a rim-protecting, athletic center — and they got exactly that in former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. Ayton agreed to a two-year,