There’s just no way.
Except here we are, late Sunday into Monday, and the Los Angeles Lakers may have just had their center need filled by a talented player falling into their lap.
In a move no one saw coming, the Portland Trail Blazers bought out DeAndre Ayton’s contract. He’ll be a free agent.
The Lakers need a center, and they’ve been involved in varying trade talks in addition to links with a few older free agents.
But Ayton might be the real answer, and Lakers fans all over social media jumped on the possibility immediately.
Ayton is a former No. 1 pick. He’s 7-feet tall and athletic. He turns 27 in July. And he just averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season.
MORE: Lakers trading LeBron James seems to be a door left open
The Blazers seem to be going for a culture shift. They already traded away Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday.
Now, they’ve gotten rid of Ayton, and the timing couldn’t be more fortuitous for the Lakers.
L.A. won’t be the only team that wants him, of course. But if you’re Ayton, wouldn’t it be exciting to go and play for a title contender led by LeBron and Luka?
And seriously, it’s the Lakers. It’s Hollywood. It’s Showtime. That’s appealing to anyone.
Ayton might have other ideas, but the Lakers have to be considered in the driver’s seat here.
Somehow, Los Angeles could luck into the answer it has been searching so hard for, and it’ll be all thanks to the Blazers’ unexpected decision.
MORE NBA NEWS:
