According to multiple US media reports, former No. 1 pick center Deandre Ayton is about to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent.

Although the news has not been officially announced, several people familiar with the matter have confirmed the signing intention to the media. Ayton will form a new Big Three with LeBron James and Luka Doncic for the Los Angeles Lakers and impact the new season.

Ayton's joining is undoubtedly the most critical step for the Los Angeles Lakers to strengthen their offseason. After Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers have been lacking a reliable inside pillar.

Last Sunday, Ayton bought out his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers and accepted a new contract, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season. Although he will play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the new season, the Portland Trail Blazers still have to pay him more than $25 million in salary.

Ayton, 27, was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. In his seven NBA seasons, he averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of 59%.

However, Ayton has never been selected to the All-Star Game, but his performance is still very good. Ayton is the only center after Howard to average double-digit data in the first seven seasons of his career.

Last season, Ayton played only 40 games for the Portland Trail Blazers and was ruled out early due to a calf strain. The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round last season, and the loss of the interior became a key problem. The introduction of Ayton this time is obviously to solve the biggest shortcoming of the lineup and rebuild a competitive championship team.