If the Los Angeles Lakers want to be the winners of the DeAndre Ayton sweepstakes, there is one less obstacle in the way of that. The Milwaukee Bucks have stepped aside for them.
The Bucks were expected to be one of the other teams vying for the services of the recently bought-out center. However, after their acquisition of Myles Turner, that path feels like one that is less likely to be travelled.
Shams Charania announced, "Free agent center Myles Turner has agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a player option for year four in 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker, sources tell ESPN."
Lakers fans will be disappointed in seeing Turner actually leaving the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles not being on the other end of those travel plans. Despite that, the opportunity to sign Ayton looks to be gift-wrapped and ready for the taking, if Rob Pelinka and the front office want it.
Adding a controversial figure like Ayton requires some real debate
Some part of this would be funny. Ayton, who went first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, joining forces with the guy who should have been taken with that selection would be amusing. Of course, the player in question there would be Luka Doncic.
In theory, Ayton would be one of the more talented options that Los Angeles have had access to in this free agency period. The question is whether there is enough talent and a good enough fit to outweigh some of the more lukewarm feelings to be had about the former Portland Trail Blazers big.
Jason Quick of The Athletic offered some insight into the troubling behavior of Ayton in Portland that led to his buyout. The report does not paint a pretty picture. The Trail Blazers were willing to overlook a lot of the on-court stuff with their former center, but there was a line that needed to be drawn.
Quick wrote, "The tardiness to team flights and practices. ... The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort."
The insider described these types of antics as ones the Blazers 'couldn't live with.' The question for the Lakers is whether they can stomach those potential issues.
Perhaps JJ Redick and his staff are confident enough to believe they can provide an environment where those problematic antics go away. However, braver men have gambled on better odds and lost.
If the Lakers pull the trigger on the addition, there will be a watchful eye over Ayton from both fans and management alike. Los Angeles will certainly not be a place to entertain such nonsense when a championship will be the goal. That is especially true when alternatives exist.