Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka knows that new starting center Deandre Ayton can considerably raise his team's ceiling.

Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Of course, that was the same draft Luka Doncic was selected at No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Now, the two top 2018 picks will have a chance to team up and play together.

Once a key cog on a Suns team that was two wins away from winning the 2021 NBA title, Ayton admits that his time in Portland was a challenge but says the chance to play alongside Luka Doncic and