The Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks were interested in Deandre Ayton, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ayton chose the Lakers because of Luka Doncic.

Ayton ultimately decided the Lakers were the best basketball fit and allowed him the opportunity to join forces with Luka Doncic, who’s the same age and considered the best playmaker in the NBA in

Conversely, while James' future in L.A. still remains up in the air, it's expected that Doncic will re-sign with the team, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million extension on Aug. 2, or he can sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a 2028 player option.