The Trail Blazers would likely want to make room to have more minutes for Donovan Clingan, who they recently selected early in the 2024 NBA Draft. For the Lakers, meanwhile, Ayton could have at least some tangible valuable as a player who has postseason experience and tremendous size on the inside.

Lakers fans are probably still in shock over the Luka Doncic trade, but the NBA stops for no one. More trades are almost guaranteed to happen given that the team no longer has a starting center and were thin at that position even before moving Anthony Davis.

“However, at least until the Johnson news, the Hawks were once again trying to create a market for Clint Capela. Two sources shared that the Hawks had contacted the Bulls about a swap of Capela’s expiring contract for Nikola Vucevic, but that the Bulls wanted other assets attached, presumably because of other deals he’s discussed.”