James is the ninth No. 1 pick in his career! Will he leave the Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers finally ushered in a key reinforcement 48 hours after the free market started. Several sources confirmed that former No. 1 center DeAndre Aiton had agreed to join the Lakers with a two-year contract of $16.6 million, of which the first annual salary was $8.1 million, and the second year was the player option. The 26-year-old center gave up 10 million of the $35.6 million in the last year of the original contract, and the actual total income next season is still $34 million (including the Trail Blazers buyout fee).

Aiton's joining ended the Lakers' recent consecutive setbacks in the inside signings. Previously, their favorite center Brooke Lopez was intercepted by the Clippers for 2 years and 18 million, while Clint Capela returned with 3 years and 21.5 million. The Rockets, the management was forced to use the remaining middle-class special case. After splitting out 6 million to sign shooter Jack Laravia, the remaining 8.1 million space happened to be used to introduce the 2018 No. 1 pick

Ayton's breakup with the Trail Blazers was a sign of a breakup. Portland's management is increasingly dissatisfied with his professional attitude. In addition to the redundant personnel at the center position (with Donovan Klingen, Robert Williams III, Dup Rees and rookie Yang Hansen), he was also disappointed with Ayton's repeated late flights, training and absence of recovery appointments. In the past two seasons, Ayton has missed 69 games in total, of which only played 40 games due to calf injuries and other injuries in the 2024-25 season, and averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and his free throw percentage fell to his career. A new low of 66.7%

For the Lakers, this signing directly pointed to the fatal shortcomings of last season. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers averaged 7.2 rebounds and a penalty area loss rate of 58.3%. The 40-year-old LeBron James was even forced to endure the fifth position. Ayton's career shooting percentage and his hardware talent of 10.5 rebounds per game can theoretically alleviate this dilemma. More importantly, he and the team's new nuclear Luka Doncic are under the same as WME sports agent Bill Duffy. This bond is widely regarded as a hidden factor that contributes to the signing. When signing Ayton, LeBron James' future is shrouded in doubt, although he chose to execute the $52.6 million player option. Stay for the team, but its agent Ritchie Paul has emphasized many times: "LeBron hopes to fight for the championship." If the Lakers cannot form a championship-level lineup, transactions may become an option. This statement was interpreted by the US media as an "ultimatum to stay for the team", especially when the Lakers signed La Lavia for only 6 million yuan, the James team directly stated: "This is not the answer to the championship!"

The root of the contradiction lies in the misalignment of the strategic timeline. The new Lakers boss Walter clearly bets on the 26-year-old Doncic in the future and refuses to overdraw resources for the short-term championship; and 41-year-old James has regarded the 2025-26 season as the "last dance" of his career because his wife Savanna asked to "retire around next year". This fundamental difference has caused the relationship between the two sides to drop to freezing point. According to ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne revealed that the Lakers have never solicited James' opinions throughout the offseason

For Ayton, the Lakers may be the last chance to redemption in their career. Since helping the Suns to enter the finals in 2021, he has been displaced due to conflict with his coach and being labeled as "Downtown Room X-factor". Famous commentator Kendrick Perkins pointed out: "He must change in a new environment, otherwise his career may shrink rapidly." But Ayton still has bright spots: in 25 games at the end of the 2023-24 season, he averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of up to 59%, which made Chauncey, the then Trail Blazers coach. Billups marveled at "This is the best version of him"

With Ayton joining, the Lakers officially formed the new three giants framework of James, Doncic and Ayton, but the salary structure has already lit up a red light. James's salary of 52.6 million, Doncic 46.9 million, and Austin Reeves' 13.9 million account for 70% of the salary cap, putting the team tightly under the second rich line, and the new version of the labor-cap agreement made it even worse: Over-tax teams are not allowed to use cash reinforcement, and the mini middle-class special case has become Pelinka's only reinforcement tool. If Ayton cannot fulfill his talent, the Lakers have little room for adjustment

Ayton's joining temporarily alleviates the inside crisis, but is not completely Relieve the risk of James leaving the team. According to Shams, if the Lakers cannot obtain another reliable center through trade in the next two weeks (Nick Richards and Walker Kessler are still on the radar), James may apply for a deal in the middle of the season, and the potential next player has surfaced: the Cavaliers (64 wins the Eastern Conference first team + Mitchell), the Knicks (Brunson + Downs + Anunobi framework), and the Mavericks (Recruitment by Irving) all have the ability to compete for the championship in real time

When Ayton becomes the ninth No. 1 pick in James' career cooperation, this signing is essentially a big gamble, and the Lakers management regards it as a "high risk and high return" operation. If Ayton regains the No. 1 pick and the inside strength It will change qualitatively; if his professional attitude recurs, it may aggravate the turmoil in the locker room. For James, the number of cooperative No. 1 picks is far less important than the quality of the championship. Amid the ticking of the career countdown, whether Ayton's pick-and-roll down and rebound protection can be transformed into victory will directly determine whether the historical superstar is willing to use the Lakers as the end of his career

As the training camp approaches, James's eyes will surely surpass the data table. When Ayton wears a golden shirt for the first time in the morning light of Los Angeles, he carries not only the hope of self-salvation, but also the expectations of a superstar of an era for the end of his career, and all this begins with the simplest and most complex question: Can this Lakers still win? The answer may not be the superposition of talents on the books, but whether the pulse of the same heart and frequency can be heard in the locker room?