Indiana Pacers Lose Out on Free Agency Target to Los Angeles Lakers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Pacers, after making the NBA Finals, seem destined for a down year. First, Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles and will be sidelined for all of next season. After that, they failed to re-sign veteran center Myles Turner, who, after ten seasons, is heading to the Milwaukee Bucks.
With Turner gone, the Pacers pivoted to former first overall pick Deandre Ayton, who was recently bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers. Ayton reportedly narrowed it down to Indiana or the Los Angeles Lakers, and on Wednesday, he made it official: he will be a Laker.
Honestly, it’s hard to blame him.
Aside from appearing in the 2021 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, Ayton has not played much winning basketball in the NBA. Even with him on the roster, the Pacers would likely struggle to get out of the first round.
With the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, Ayton can once again compete for a title.
While there were questions about his motor and mentality, likely leading to his departure from Portland, he is a double-double machine and is a reliable starting center in the NBA, and has been since his rookie season.
The Lakers missed out on Clint Capela and Brook Lopez, and with the Blazers paying part of his salary, were able to make a competitive offer.
Indiana, meanwhile, has long made it clear that it will not pay the luxury tax, and the parting of ways with Turner further proves its reluctance to spend. While the Lakers hunt for their 18th banner, the Pacers, after coming so close, will miss out again.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.