Going into this summer’s NBA free agency period, the Los Angeles Lakers had a massive hole at the center position. It was hoped they could sign one or two veterans such as Brook Lopez or Clint Capela in free agency, but it looked like their best path toward landing a legitimate starting center was through the trade market.

Then, on June 29, a favorable curveball was thrown. Deandre Ayton agreed to a buyout of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, and instantly, speculation began that he would inevitably sign with the Lakers. That is exactly what happened, as he agreed to a two-year, $16.2 million contract with them.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Ayton was apparently the Lakers’ top free agent target from the moment teams were allowed to start talking to prospective free agents on June 30.

“I believe that Deandre Ayton was the Lakers’ top target among centers from the first minute of free agency. I know it might have looked to some like the Lakers lost out to the Clippers on Brook Lopez and pivoted to Ayton, but that’s not how it went down. Ayton and the Trail Blazers came to terms on a buyout agreement on the day before free agency officially began and the 7-foot Bahamian was instantly regarded by numerous interested teams as a virtual lock to land with the Lakers.”

Ayton comes with some risks, as he wasn’t exactly on his best behavior over the last two seasons with the Trail Blazers. But the seven-footer has career averages of 16.4 points on 59% field-goal shooting and 10.5 rebounds a game, and at age 26, he should still have a significant amount of untapped potential.

As a rim-running lob threat, Ayton appears to be the type of center Luka Doncic wants and needs to play with. If he behaves himself and even starts playing some defense, he could considerably raise L.A.’s ceiling this coming season.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Stein: Deandre Ayton was Lakers’ top target from start of free agency