A recent report detailed how troubling new Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton’s behavior was during the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Between that poor attitude and his disappointing defense, plenty of people aren’t too bullish on his prospects with the Purple and Gold.

But there are others who feel he will help the team and possibly even be more motivated to play his best basketball than he has been in a while. In particular, Luka Doncic should be able to exploit Ayton’s ability to convert lob passes into easy baskets, run the floor in transition and be a pick-and-pop threat out to about 15 feet.

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According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Ayton and Doncic were “motivated to team up” on the same team (h/t Lakers Daily).

“Ayton and Luka Dončić have been pals since they were selected No. 1 overall and No. 3, respectively, in the 2018 NBA Draft,” Stein wrote.

“The prospect of the pair becoming teammates first materialized five years later when the [Dallas] Mavericks entered into advanced trade talks with Phoenix to acquire Ayton in conjunction with the 2023 NBA Draft. Yet those talks ultimately collapsed.

“… The Bahamian big man asked the [Portland] Trail Blazers to buy out the final season of his contract and he committed Wednesday to teaming up with the Slovenian star after clearing waivers.

“The players share an agent — WME Sports’ head of basketball Bill Duffy — and were motivated to team up given the Lakers’ well-chronicled need for a front-line center.”

In his seven seasons in the NBA, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game and made 59% of his shot attempts. While he isn’t a consistent rim protector or shot-blocker, he does have the physical tools to become one, as he has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and clocked in with a 43.5-inch vertical leap during his college career.

Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks, who was an assistant with Portland during Ayton’s first season there, reportedly advocated for the signing of the 26-year-old, which seems to be an encouraging sign.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton have been ‘motivated’ to play together