The Los Angeles Lakers ideally require an athletic center who can be a lob threat and an adequate rim protector. One player who fits that bill perfectly is Portland Trail Blazers center DeAndre Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick.
Fadeaway World proposed a Lakers trade that would send Ayton to Los Angeles, making the 7-foot Bahamian the team’s new starting center.
Trail Blazers would receive: Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber
“He is a lob threat and a shot blocker, both of which the Lakers need,” read the article.
“He has been to the NBA Finals with the Suns in 2021; therefore also has experience in high-pressure situations. To retool around Luka Doncic, he is the perfect fit for the Lakers in terms of timeline (same age as Doncic), playing style (lob-threat and shot blocker), as well as experience in high-pressure situations.
“Other than his potential injury concerns (which the Lakers dealt with when they had Anthony Davis as well), I cannot think of a reason why the Lakers should not try to trade for him.”
One of the advantages of the Lakers potentially trading for Ayton is that he’s on an expiring contract. The former Suns player is owed $35.5 million in 2025-26, but isn’t expected to command a max-level salary going forward, given his dip in performance in recent years. If the Lakers-Ayton marriage doesn’t work, the team can simply let him walk as a free agent next season or trade him during the February trade deadline.
According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Trail Blazers are actively shopping Ayton.
“Much like Boston, the Blazers will continue to navigate the offseason with open arms regarding further trade discussions,” he wrote. “Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III have been made available in trade talks dating back to before this past season’s trade deadline, sources said.”
Portland has been one of the most active teams this offseason, trading Anfernee Simons to the Celtics before trading down in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 11 to No. 16) to select Hansen Yang, a 7’1″ center from China, with their first-round pick.
While Ayton, a veteran with Finals experience, makes sense for the Lakers, his $35.5 million salary is still a concern, requiring Los Angeles to package at least three or four players. GM Rob Pelinka won’t face that hurdle in trying to acquire another Lakers trade target — Jazz center Walker Kessler.
Kessler ($4.8M) is in the last year of his rookie contract, making him a very attractive piece for teams around the league. According to The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen, the Lakers have shown “significant interest” recently in trying pry Kessler away from Utah.
“Giving up multiple picks to get there, that is on the table right now,” Larsen said of the Lakers’ pursuit of Kessler. “I don’t know if the Jazz take it. Certainly, they haven’t so far.”
Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.4 blocks from 58 starts last season. He’s viewed as one of the league’s elite young shot blockers and rim protectors.
Besides Ayton and Kessler, other potential Lakers trade options for centers include Nic Claxton, Robert Williams III and Daniel Gafford. The Lakers can also sign Brook Lopez or Clint Capela with their $5.7M taxpayer midlevel exception, per multiple insiders.
