The Los Angeles Lakers were in a desperate search for a center this summer, and they ultimately settled on Deandre Ayton with a two-year, $16.6 million contract. The decision was met with resistance by many fans, who cited a concerning history of disappointment with his previous teams. For the Lakers, however, they feel Ayton will have a positive influence based on what he can do on the court.
“Culture can’t play above the rim. It can’t stand between the basket and Rudy Gobert. It can’t catch lobs from Luka Doncic. Deandre Ayton can do all of that stuff. And that’s why the Lakers are excited to have him on their team,” wrote Dan Woike of The Athletic.
It hasn’t been all victories for the Lakers this offseason. They had to re-pivot in the draft after losing Ryan Kalkbrenner, and they had to watch as most of their top candidates were taken by other teams. Worst of all, they lost Dorian Finney-Smith, who was an important player for them on the court and in the locker room.
“With ‘Doe Doe’ agreeing to a deal with the Houston Rockets at the start of free agency, the Lakers lost more than their point-of-attack defender. They lost a cultural cornerstone of their locker room — the kind of player who makes a workplace a more pleasant place to be.”
With the acquisition of Luka Doncic in February, the Lakers were under pressure to find a big man, and they failed to secure a deal before the deadline. This summer, it became their biggest priority, and things were looking bleak after guys like Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, and Jonas Valanciunas were all taken off the board.
Fortunately, they were able to secure Deandre Ayton. Despite concerns about his work ethic and attitude, the Lakers believe they have the conditions to bring out the best in him. At 7’0″ and 250 pounds, he’s certainly an upgrade at the position with career averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 59.0% shooting.
If he plays up to his potential as a former No. 1 overall pick, Ayton could change the game for the Lakers and elevate them into title contender status. As good as the vibes were last year with Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers needed a truly elite center to put next to Luka Doncic, and they have full faith that Ayton can meet their expectations.
Ultimately, Ayton chose the Lakers based on his potential for greatness with Luka, and he knows what comes with the territory. For the first time in his career, he’ll be facing real pressure to perform, and he may not get another chance to prove himself in this environment.
After years of disappointment and failure with the Suns and Trail Blazers, this is really the last chance for Ayton, and if he doesn’t find success with the Lakers, his career may never recover. Fortunately, he’ll set up for good things next season with high-level coaching from Redick and constant feeds under the rim from Luka and LeBron.
