Sources: DeAndre Ayton Agrees to Two-Year Deal with Lakers

DeAndre Ayton, a free-agent centre, has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to sources. Sources indicated the deal contains a player option.

Between Portland and Los Angeles, Ayton will earn $34 million next season. Ayton's agents, Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Sports, reached an agreement with Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka on Wednesday, according to sources.

On Sunday night, Ayton negotiated a buyout with the Trail Blazers, with his reps contacting the franchise about his desire to play in a winning environment and the team's growing number of young centres. Multiple clubs contacted Blazers general manager Joe Cronin to perform background checks on Ayton, and they received positive feedback on his leadership and mentoring of big players like Donovan Clingan.

Ayton will start in the centre for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving as an anchor and partnering with fellow 2018 top choice Luka Doncic. Ayton and Doncic were selected first and third, respectively, in the 2018 NBA draft, and they have developed a relationship since.

Ayton cleared free agency waivers Wednesday evening and spoke with several organisations before settling on the Lakers. The Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets were all interested in Ayton, according to sources.

Ayton, who will be 27 on July 23, averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 56.6% last season.

He is the only player to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first seven NBA seasons since Dwight Howard in 2004-05. Along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic, Ayton is one of four players who have averaged at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in each of the last seven seasons.

Ayton was chosen to the 2018-19 All-Rookie Team, and he averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 59.7% during his five seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Ayton played only 40 games for Portland this season, the second fewest of his career, and has only appeared in 95 of a possible 164 games over the last two seasons.