Deandre Ayton's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers was reportedly influenced by the chance to play alongside Luka Doncic.

The Los Angeles Lakers tried to address their center problem in NBA free agency this week by signing former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal worth over $16 million. Ayton has largely underwhelmed as a professional,

Conversely, while James' future in L.A. still remains up in the air, it's expected that Doncic will re-sign with the team, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million extension on Aug. 2, or he can sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a 2028 player option.