The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free-agent center DeAndre Ayton to a two-year, $16 million contract after the 26-year-old cleared waivers following a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple published reports. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick will turn 27 later this month. Ayton owns career averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 59 percent shooting but has developed a reputation for inconsistent effort and durability. Despite proclaiming last season that he was still a “max player,” he accepted a steep pay cut in order to join what he called a championship environment. Head coach JJ Redick, who once lauded Ayton’s pick-and-roll efficiency, plans to install him as the starting center alongside Luka Doncic and 40-year-old LeBron James—addressing a front-court vacancy created when Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis at February’s deadline. Team officials are banking on the veteran leadership of James to help stabilize Ayton’s focus and conditioning. Las Vegas is reserving judgment: ESPN Bet kept the Lakers at +1,400 to win the 2025-26 NBA title and +850 to capture the Western Conference after the move. Analysts at Athlon Sports and the Los Angeles Times described the signing as a high-variance gamble that could either fortify the Lakers’ interior or revive questions about Ayton’s reliability.