The Los Angeles Lakers finally found their big man: former lottery pick Deandre Ayton. As fans and experts welcomed him to Los Angeles on Thursday, one NBA insider revealed Luka Doncic’s initial reaction to the signing.
“Ayton and Doncic are both represented by Bill Duffy, the longtime agent who heads WME Basketball,” wrote Dan Woike of The Athletic. “Doncic, according to league sources, is excited about the opportunity to play with Ayton.”
The Lakers had been on the search for front-court talent for months, tracing back to the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade. They had to settle for Jaxon Hayes at the five until this offseason, when the market finally opened up.
A first, they were on track for Brook Lopez but their plans changed after Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, was suddenly made available in free agency.
“The Lakers, according to team and league sources, showed serious interest in veteran center Brook Lopez, who agreed to a two-year deal with the LA Clippers on Monday. He was pegged by many around the NBA as the logical player for the Lakers this free agency cycle. Lopez, 37, is still one of the NBA’s best inside-outside centers but doesn’t play the kind of pick-and-roll, lob-threat style that Doncic has had the most success with in his career.”
As a premium offensive point guard, Luka works best with support from the frontcourt. Back in Dallas, players like Kristaps Porzingis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford helped him achieve greatness and even make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024.
With a proper center on the floor, Luka’s deficiencies are covered, and his game becomes much more valuable. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they had to trade away their star big man (Anthony Davis) to acquire Luka, and it took until now for them to fill the position with a starting-caliber player like Ayton.
After rescinding the deal for Mark Williams and striking out on the summer’s other top free agent centers, Ayton was really the only option for the Lakers, and the circumstances of his buyout were less than ideal after getting essentially exiled from the Trail Blazers. Still, his size and rebounding should provide some boost for the Lakers.
In 40 games last season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 56.6% shooting. At 7’0” and 250 pounds, Deandre will be the featured big man for JJ Redick’s rotation, and he will face a lot of pressure to succeed in the role.
On his third team now in eight years, Ayton will have a lot to prove on the Lakers next season, and his play at center could make or break their championship aspirations. Regardless of his performance, though, it was the right move to bring him in and add some elite talent at such an important position.
If Ayton can properly fill his role and keep Luka happy during the season, he will be entirely worth his contract. But if he fails to live up to the Lakers’ standards, the consequences could be devastating, as his value and reputation on the court may never recover.
