Deandre Ayton‘s addition to the Los Angeles Lakers roster has been viewed favorably within the organization, as enthusiasm builds among players and front office personnel. But Ayton recently revealed to ESPN that although Luka Doncic had sent him a welcome text, he was yet to receive any such message from Lakers superstar LeBron James.
When asked whether he had any conversations with James or Luka after signing his contract, Ayton responded by saying:
“Not really, yet. But I definitely had a text from Luka. I know how the offseason goes. This is not my first rodeo. People are probably busy with training and hanging out with their families. But I’m just waiting, really just trying to integrate myself with the team and get to know everybody.”
Deandre Ayton says LeBron hasn’t sent him a welcome text since he joined the Lakers
“Hasn’t happened yet. I did get one from Luka.”
(via @Fullcourtpass, @Sedano, @ScottKaplan) pic.twitter.com/9VnONJGMA6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 10, 2025
While Ayton acknowledged how busy professionals can be during the offseason, the underlying subtext behind James’ recent behavior cannot be ignored.
Since opting in to his $52.6 million contract for the upcoming season, James has made it abundantly clear that he wishes to play on a title-contending squad. This also implied that the superstar would request a trade if the Purple and Gold fail to assemble a team capable of competing for the championship.
On a positive note, the pairing of Doncic and Ayton seems to have solid chemistry, owing to their familiarity from being part of the same draft class. As the Lakers’ search for a big man has been addressed, the team is certainly in a more balanced position than last season.
But considering that the Lakers have only made a handful of signings thus far, with Jake LaRavia and Ayton being the more significant ones, the front office hasn’t inspired much confidence in improving their title chances yet.
The Lakers have been linked in trade talks for several players, including Andrew Wiggins, who could be an immediate boost to the team’s overall strength. But the chatter on this front has been fairly cold as of late, primarily due to the asking price.
The efforts made by the front office haven’t necessarily been satisfactory, especially in the eyes of James. With tensions rising gradually, the future outlook for the 40-year-old with the Lakers looks bleak.
Recent reports have suggested that the Lakers would be willing to part ways with James, something that aligns with the forward’s plans as well. Given his no-trade clause, a trade is only possible if James is satisfied with the destination. In this case, a potential buyout scenario seems to be the most likely outcome.
Some reports suggest that Bronny James‘ future may also be tied to his father’s status with the team. With so many factors dictating the team’s prospects, the Lakers find themselves in a difficult position at this point in the offseason.
