Deandre Ayton, LeBron, Luka Doncic: Here's how Lakers' starting 5 looks in 2025-26

Deandre Ayton is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season

Updated on: Jul 3, 2025, 03:39:46 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Deandre Ayton is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Wednesday, citing sources. The free agent center will earn $34 million next season after his agents, Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Sports, reached the deal with Lakers president Rob Pelinka. The 26-year-old finalized a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, the report added.

Deandre Ayton is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal (AP)

Ayton's decision is backed by his desire to play in a winning situation, as per ESPN. He will be joining LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the Lakers' starting five. Ayton and Doncic went Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, in the 2018 draft, and could guide the team to the playoffs after a series of flop seasons.

Projected starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers

Point Guard: Luka Doncic

Acquired in a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis in February 2025, Doncic, 26, averages 28.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game, making him the Lakers’ offensive engine.

Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves

Reaves, 27, had a career year, averaging 20.3 points and shooting 41% from three, shifting to off-ball shooting guard with Doncic at point.

Small Forward: LeBron James

At 40, James remains elite, averaging 24.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in 2024-25, earning All-NBA Second Team honors despite a Grade 2 MCL sprain.

Power Forward: Rui Hachimura

Hachimura, 27, provides versatility, averaging 13.6 points and solid defense, though trade speculation for a stronger big man lingers.

Center: Deandre Ayton

Ayton, 26, a former No 1 pick, comes with 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds career averages and midrange shooting to address the Lakers’ frontcourt void post-Davis.

The Lakers’ 2024-25 season ended with a 50-32 record but a 1-4 playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, exposing their lack of size. The trade of Davis for Doncic created an offensive juggernaut but left Jaxson Hayes as the starting center, who was benched in the playoffs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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