The team added Luka Doncic, Mark Williams, Dorian Finney-Smith and three other players over the past six weeks, deals that appear to have short- and long-term benefits.

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.

Rumors had long linked two teams as potential landing spots if Doncic ever left the Dallas Mavericks – the Lakers and the Miami Heat .