Player tracker: Lakers sign centre Deandre Ayton

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The Los Angeles Lakers have a centre to complement superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

The Lakers signed free agent Deandre Ayton on a two-year deal on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

The Milwaukee Bucks have waived injured superstar Damian Lillard to accommodate free agent centre Myles Turner.

The Bucks will spread out the remaining $113M USD left on Lillard's contract to pay former Indiana Pacers centre Turner $107M over four years.

Lillard torn his Achilles during this year's playoffs and is almost certain to miss all of the 2025-26 season.

Myles joining the Bucks to play the 5 means Giannis Antetokounmpo is more than likely to stay in Milwaukee with more moves to come in order to keep the NBA champion and MVP happy in Wisconsin.

2025 Player movements and transactions

• Free agent centre Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers
• Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now the highest paid player in NBA history — agreeing to a four-year $285M USD extension.
• Australian free agent forward Joe Ingles intends to sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN).
• Free agent shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has agreed to a four-year, $62 million deal with Dyson Daniels' Atlanta Hawks that includes a player option and trade kicker (ESPN)
• Free agent centre Clint Capela has agreed to a three-year, $21.5 million deal with the Houston Rockets (ESPN). This signing all but guarantees Australian Jock Landale will be on the move.
• The Memphis Grizzlies and All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. are expected to agree to a five-year, $240 million maximum renegotiation and extension that includes a player option in the final year of the deal in 2029-30 (ESPN)
• James Harden is declining his $36.3 million player option and intends to sign a new two-year, $81.5 million contract to return to the LA Clippers (ESPN).
• Guard Jordan Clarkson is finalising a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz (ESPN).
• Three-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle intends to sign a new three-year, $100 million deal to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN).
• Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. intends to sign a five-year, $122 million rookie contract extension (ESPN).
• Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has turned down a four-year, $89.2 million extension (ESPN)
• The Washington Wizards took guard Walter Clayton Jr. at pick 18 in the NBA draft and then traded him to Utah for pick 21 pick (Will Riley) and, a second-round pick in 2031 and a second-round pick in 2032.
• Atlanta Hawks traded pick Derik Queen in the 2025 draft to the Pelicans for pick 23 pick Asa Newell and an unprotected first-round pick in 2026 (the better pick between New Orleans' and Milwaukee).
• Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets are working on a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to Australian Dyson Daniels' Atlanta Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta's No. 22 pick for 2025 to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics (via ESPN).
• Boston Celtics traded guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two future second-round picks (via ESPN).
• The Phoenix Suns traded two-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for guard rising star guard Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year's NBA draft along with five future second-round picks.
• New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in today's NBA draft (via ESPN)
• Memphis Grizzlies trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap