Ayton thrilled to be with ‘once-in-a-generation’ Doncic

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — More than seven years after being selected two spots ahead of Luka Doncic in the NBA Draft, 2018 No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton was amazed Tuesday when he was introduced as Doncic’s newest Los Angeles Lakers teammate.

“This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up,” Ayton, decked out in an all-black suit, said at his introductory news conference. “This is an opportunity that I won’t take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I’m happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he’s been in, he’s super ripped, and I’m finally glad to be on his side.”

While a slimmed-down Doncic could certainly help the Lakers in the hyper-competitive Western Conference next season, Ayton’s arrival could be even more consequential.

Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka identified the center position as the team’s top need for the offseason. Ayton, 26, stands 7-foot, 250 pounds with career averages of 16.4 points on 59.0% shooting, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.

He agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million deal with a player option for the second year, sources told ESPN, after being bought out of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Once a key cog on a Phoenix Suns team that was two wins away from winning the 2021 NBA Finals and followed that up with a 64-win season, Ayton admitted that his time in Portland — where the Blazers won 57 games combined over their past two campaigns — was a challenge.

“I feel like the Lakers were the best position [for me],” Ayton said. “They want to win a championship right now, and I want to win right now as well and just be part of a winning legacy and be around winners. … The last two years was just a different route for me and I just learned a lot that when you don’t win in this league, you can be forgotten.”

And any uncertainty about the Lakers being led by Doncic and LeBron James once again next season was seemingly forgotten about inside the Lakers’ practice facility Monday. Ayton and forward Jake LaRavia, who also was introduced after signing a two-year, $12 million free contract with L.A. in free agency, repeatedly referred to how they plan to fit with the two stars.

“They both average about nine assists over their career span,” Ayton said. “They turn [their teammates] into superstars, they make them bigger than their roles, they make them very important on the floor.”

Added LaRavia: “A lot of obviously really, really good players on this team, Luka and LeBron. High IQ players that have been in the league a long time. I’m just excited to get with them and learn.”

Last month, James opted in to the final year of his contract with Los Angeles worth $52.6 million. Following the contract decision, which set up James to play a league-record 23rd season, his agent and Klutch Sports CEO, Rich Paul, told ESPN’s Shams Charania that the four-time MVP would be closely monitoring L.A.’s subsequent moves.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”

Since Paul’s statement, Los Angeles traded up in the second round to draft rugged forward Adou Thiero out of Arkansas, signed Ayton and LaRavia, and re-signed center Jaxson Hayes.

As for Doncic, come Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer him a four-year, $229 million extension. Doncic could also opt to sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a player option in 2028, according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, which would then allow him to sign a max deal in 2028 that would give him 35% of the team’s salary cap for five seasons.

The Lakers’ roster is currently at max capacity, with 15 players signed. Reserve guard Shake Milton’s $3 million contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed July 20 and backup Jordan Goodwin’s $2.3 million contract is guaranteed for only $25,000 up until the first day of the regular season, according to Marks.