Lakers address crucial need, acquires 7-foot center Ayton

Sports

THE absence of someone who can effectively patrol the paint was the LA Lakers’ weakest link last season. They have just addressed that.

According to multiple reports, the Lakers acquired Deandre Ayton–a 7-foot center who could be the favorite target of alley-oop passes from LeBron James or Luka Doncic.

Ayton became available after his contract was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Ayton is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the same year that Luka joined the league as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks.

The Lakers’ need for a big man arose when they traded Anthony Davis for Doncic in a blockbuster deal that was completed before the trade deadline last season.

LA’s lack of a legit big man was exposed during the second round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minnesota ousted the Lakers in five games with Rudy Gobert collecting 27 points and 24 rebounds in the series-clinching Game 5 victory.

Ayton played 40 games for Portland last season, averaging 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. The agile center has career averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 boards.(CCM)