Lakers Sign Drew Timme Amid Deandre Ayton’s Injury Concern

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Lakers announced Monday they have signed Drew Timme to a two-way contract, just as starting center Deandre Ayton is expected to be sidelined due to a knee injury.

Ayton injured his right knee during the Lakers’ close 108-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday and has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Timme has been making waves in the G League, where he averaged 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game for the South Bay Lakers. His performance caught the eye of Lakers officials during practices, especially while Ayton was undergoing rehabilitation.

Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Timme was previously with the G League’s Stockton Kings and marked his return to competitive basketball by averaging 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds over nine games with the Brooklyn Nets.

The 25-year-old Gonzaga standout was a two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year and holds the record as Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer. Despite going undrafted in 2023, Timme has worked his way up through the G League to now secure an opportunity with the Lakers.

With Ayton out, Jaxson Hayes is likely to step in as the starting center. Timme could serve as his backup, giving him valuable playing time in the absence of the injured Ayton. The Lakers are yet to finalize which player will be released to accommodate Timme in their two-way roster.

Sources indicate that the Lakers are considering their roster options carefully, specifically looking at players like Christian Koloko or Chris Mañon for potential cuts. As Timme aims to solidify his spot, he will need to capitalize on the opportunities presented to him during Ayton’s recovery.