Lakers Sign Deandre Ayton on Two-Year Deal, Coach Brooks Advocates

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract, with strong support from assistant coach Scott Brooks, who previously coached Ayton in Portland. Brooks, alongside star guard Luka Doncic, advocated for the Lakers to pursue Ayton, who initiated a buyout with the Trail Blazers to join the Lakers, signaling his desire for a fresh start. Despite past struggles with effort and behavioral issues during his stints in Phoenix and Portland, the Lakers coaching staff, led by head coach JJ Redick with experienced assistants like Nate McMillan and Brooks, is confident they can unlock Ayton's potential. Ayton fills a key need at center for the Lakers, who also re-signed Jaxson Hayes as his backup but continue to seek additional frontcourt depth to improve their defense. The Lakers see this as a critical opportunity for Ayton to re-establish himself, with expectations that he will outperform his contract and potentially secure a more lucrative deal in the future. The team is optimistic that better chemistry between LeBron James and Luka Doncic, combined with coaching support, will help maximize Ayton's impact and strengthen their Western Conference contention.