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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 48621, member: 636"] Deandre Ayton has decided to become a Laker after Portland released him from his contract last weekend. Two sources confirmed the news to reporters on Wednesday but asked to remain unnamed because teams cannot make official announcements about the deal. The center was the top pick during the 2018 NBA draft and landed two spots ahead of Luka Dončić. He will team up with Dončić and LeBron James on a one-year agreement that gives him the choice to stay for another season. Portland will pay him over 25 million dollars even though he plays for Los Angeles during the upcoming campaign. The Lakers needed a center more than anything else heading into the new season. Ayton will catch passes from James and Dončić near the basket and provide the defensive presence they lost when they traded Anthony Davis to Dallas for Dončić. He spent his first five professional seasons with Phoenix before moving to Portland two years ago. The big man struggled with the Trail Blazers on teams that rarely won games. His career numbers show he averages 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and makes 59 percent of his shots. Los Angeles had major problems without Davis protecting the paint last season. Jaxson Hayes played poorly enough that coach JJ Redick benched him during the final games of the year. Minnesota knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs during the first round and won the series in five games. Rudy Gobert dominated the final victory with 27 points and 24 rebounds against a Lakers team that barely used a center. [/QUOTE]

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