Lakers' $10M offseason gamble labeled 'biggest steal' of free agency, silencing cancer label

The Los Angeles Lakers are getting very close to their regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors. Their offseason was relatively quiet, with no major moves made. However, it was clear early on that the Lakers were going to pursue Deandre Ayton once he became available.

“Los Angeles will have interest in former Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton,” Stein wrote Monday afternoon. “The Trail Blazers are reportedly in the process of buying out Ayton. The Arizona product was the first pick of the 2018 draft by the Suns, and helped that franchise rebuild into a contender in the early 2020s. However, his play has slipped since he joined Portland via trade in Sept. 2023; his 2.8 win shares in '25 were a career low,” Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Andres wrote.

When the Lakers signed Ayton, the move was met with a negative perception. Because of his past reputation, Ayton was labeled as a locker room distraction.

“The word around the league is not good about Deandre Ayton... right now he's been labeled as a diva, as a cancer in the locker room... he has to change a lot about himself or he will find his career being shortened,” ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said.

Throughout the preseason, though, Ayton has started to prove his doubters wrong.

“There is still a level of caution revolving around Deandre Ayton that is hard to shake. However, in the very early parts of the Ayton experience for the Los Angeles Lakers, it is likewise difficult to shake the present feeling that Rob Pelinka and the front office made the biggest steal of the summer,” Lake Show Life’s Syvatoslav Rovenchuk wrote. “The more Ayton continues to look like someone who can reliably fix the concerns of last season, the more his $8.1 million contract will stick out for its value. Not only will that be a bargain, it could be highway robbery by year's end.”

All Ayton needed was veteran teammates who would hold him accountable. He has that in Los Angeles. In fact, he might have the best supporting cast he’s had in his entire NBA career.