According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the Lakers were going toe-to-toe in the race to sign Deandre Ayton: "The Lakers were competing with the Bucks for Deandre Ayton, and so this leaves Deandre Ayton to go to the Lakers to be their starting center as a possible ramification of this," Windhorst said.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who lost Lopez to the Clippers in free agency, are trying to remain competitive and have access to the full mid-level exception after some cap creativity and