The Los Angeles Lakers adding what many believe to be the key piece their 2024 roster was missing to make an NBA Finals run when they signed 7-foot center DeAndre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million deal on Wednesday.

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.

Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic were talk of the town during the 2018 NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. Ayton went to the Phoenix Suns as the No.1 pick and Luka Doncic was sent to Dallas Mavericks as Atlanta Hawks traded him for Trae Young.