Deandre Ayton Reportedly Eyed By Knicks, Clippers, Bucks, More Before Lakers Contract
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract that includes a player option for the 2026-27 season, per multiple reports, but the veteran center reportedly had plenty of interest around the NBA.
"I'm told the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets all had interest in Ayton before his decision to sign with the Lakers," ESPN's Shams Charania reported during Wednesday's SportsCenter.
The Lakers had a glaring need at center, and while Ayton isn't the most natural fit next to either LeBron James or Luka Dončić, he was arguably the best remaining option for them in free agency.
But the Lakers weren't the only team who could have used help down on the block at the onset of free agency.
The Knicks have Mitchell Robinson at center and both Karl-Anthony Towns and Guerschon Yabusele can also both fill in at the position, so it wasn't the biggest need for the team. But having another option down on the block wouldn't have hurt.
The Clippers ended up signing Brook Lopez to serve as Ivica Zubac's backup, so the team is more than set at the position. Lopez seems like a better overall fit in a reserve role, providing floor spacing and rim protection for the second unit.
The Bucks ultimately replaced Lopez with Myles Turner, though it took using the waive-and-stretch provision on Damian Lillard to accomplish it. Still, from a win-now perspective, Turner's shooting and defense is a both better fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo than Ayton would have been and an upgrade over what Lopez provided last season.
The Pacers lost Turner in the process, so the defending Eastern Conference champions now have a major hole at center. Ayton would have been a logical option in that regard.
The Nuggets are a curious inclusion on this list, given the presence of three-time MVP Nikola Jokić as the starter, though the team did have a need for a backup center coming into the offseason. That was ultimately addressed by the Jonas Valančiūnas trade, who will likely more happily serve in a limited backup role than Ayton would have.
