After losing out to Miles Turner, Brook Lopez and Clint Capella, DeAndre Ayton is the best free agent center the Los Angeles Lakers target, but he’s far from perfect.
Heading into one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest priorities, the NBA offseason, was to find proven RIM protectors and LOB threats, combined with Lukadon Sic and LeBron James’ final years.
Brooke Lopez and Clint Capella seemed to be their favorites, but the Lakers missed it. Other free agents, including Myles Turner, Kevon Looney, Luke Kornet and Naz Reid, are all signed elsewhere, and the Lakers have limited options.
The original first pick, Deandre Ayton, was acquired by the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite some questions surrounding his motor and competitiveness, he will fit in Los Angeles well.
Before being selected for the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton described the definition of NBA success as simply reaching his second contract.
He made it clear that although he felt that the team would only win a contract if it was successful, the damage was done. In 2024, he missed a Blazers game as his driveway was frozen, raising further questions about his competitive nature.
“In the end, they couldn’t live in his bad way,” he reported. Athletic Jason is quick about the Blazers agreeing to say goodbye to Ayton.
“According to team sources, lateness to team flights and practices. Skip to rehabilitation appointments. Fans slammed on the chair when he was taken out of the game, and team sources said he had a tantrum in the locker room when he was sidelined for inadequate effort.”
If that sounds familiar, you might have heard a bit of Nico Harrison as he sang a similar song last season to justify trading Luka Donsic with the Lakers.
In Dallas, Donsic was an elite player, but his efforts and conditioning have long been the subject of controversy.
Can two players with similar reputations succeed together? The Lakers may have to find it as there are not many options left.
Doncic and Ayton have long respected each other and he is still a productive player despite the top picks hiding among many of his draft classmates.
Over seven seasons, he averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and blocks, and is one of the better interior scorers in the league.
The lineup of Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Ayton should be more than enough to compete in the West.
Ayton is not good at floor spacing and is far from an elite defender, but he plays for a team that clearly wants to be serviceable and sufficient to solve the attitude problems of existence or not.