Official announcement! The No. 1 pick in 2018 officially joined and became the starting center, with a 15+10 shooting percentage of over 60% in the playoffs

On July 3, according to exclusive news from famous reporter Shams, league insiders revealed that DeAndre Ayton has reached a signing agreement with the Los Angeles Lakers. Through the contract link between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers, the 2018 NBA No. 1 pick will earn $34 million in the new season. The transaction was jointly facilitated by Innovate Sports brokerage Nima Namakian, WME Sports's Bill Duffy and Lakers' President Pelinka.

Reporter Jake Fischer further disclosed the details of the contract: the two parties signed a two-year agreement of US$16.6 million, with an annual salary of 8.1 million in the first year, and the second year is the player option. Ayton will directly secure the starting center position of the Lakers. As the only player in NBA history who averaged 15+ points per game and shot over 60% of the field goal percentage, his seven-season career averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and his 59% shooting percentage is extremely convincing.

Previously, Ayton and the Trail Blazers completed a buyout and became free agents. After being traded to Portland in 2023, he still averaged 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and had a stable performance with a 56.9% shooting percentage. The Lakers' signing not only fills the gap in the inside, but also gains a core rotation that combines playoff experience and data dominance through cost-effective contracts.