LOS ANGELES — The Lakers officially announced a series of roster moves Sunday, finalizing contracts with free agent signings Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and the return of Jaxson Hayes, along with rookie forward Adou Thiero, the 36th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
All free agent signings were reported during the negotiation period last week, agreeing to terms before the official signing period.
The headline move was the signing of former No. 1 pick Ayton, who joins the Lakers on a two-year, $16.6 million deal that includes a player option for the second season. Ayton, 26, averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season with Portland and gives Los Angeles a much-needed presence at starting center.
“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” Lakers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said.
The Lakers also addressed their wing depth by signing 23-year-old forward LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal. LaRavia brings size, shooting and playmaking to the Lakers’ bench after averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 66 games last season with Memphis and Sacramento.
“Jake is a high-IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system,” Pelinka said. “He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.
L.A. retained Hayes on a one-year contract, securing an athletic backup center who averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 56 games last season while shooting a career-best 72.2% from the field. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hayes started 35 games but saw his role reduced in their first-round postseason exit to the Timberwolves.
Completing the team’s roster moves, the Lakers signed second-round pick Thiero out of Arkansas to his rookie deal, agreeing to a three-year, $5.95 million contract.
The Lakers acquired Thiero’s draft rights in a seven-team trade involving the 36th pick, Rocco Zikarsky, and cash considerations.
Thiero, a versatile, athletic forward, gives L.A. another young piece to develop in a position group they want to be younger and more athletic in.
The Lakers’ series of signings comes as the franchise looks to build a balanced roster around new centerpiece Luka Dončić and LeBron James, in what could be his final season with the Lakers or in the NBA.
Don’t expect L.A. to stop now, as they still hold that 2031 first-round pick at their disposal to add a championship-caliber player to compete against a Western Conference that continues to get better.