Regarding Ayton's role in Washington, Buha suggested he might not start or play heavy minutes initially.
"He's not going to be playing a ton, he's not going to be starting, but maybe AD [Anthony Davis] gets traded, maybe AD gets injured, and now all of a sudden Ayton is in a more prominent role," he said.
Summarizing the deal, Buha highlighted the mutual benefits: "They needed to find a way to save money, they got some assets back, and I think they did him a favor."
Despite criticism of Ayton's consistency, his former Lakers teammate Austin Reaves voiced support.
"A lot of people talk [expletive] about DA, and kinda how he goes about the game, but when he was in a good headspace for us last year, he was top-10 big in the league," Reaves said.
"It's just trying to manage the ups and downs. Kinda was hard.
But at the end of the day, he was a good dude. Good to be around."
Meanwhile, reports indicate that other teams, including the Golden State Warriors, considered trading for Anthony Davis but ultimately decided against it due to his injury history and extension demands.
NBA reporter Logan Murdock noted that a small contingent of Golden State's front office pushed for a deal involving Jimmy Butler and draft picks, but "AD's injury history and desire for a new extension ultimately convinced team brass to stay put."
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Ayton now joins a Wizards roster that includes Davis and Trae Young as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
