While Deandre Ayton’s debut season in Los Angeles wasn’t the perfect fit, it was still a strong season for the big man, all things considered.
His numbers were, naturally, down from previous season, but given his role as the fourth fiddle on offense, that’s to be expected. He still had his most efficient season as a scorer and his highest block total since the 2020-21 season.
However, his playstyle didn’t mesh with the Lakers’ pick-and-roll ballhandlers and his inability to be a lob threat has left the team searching for just that this summer. But even if the team is ready to move on from him, he likely won’t be facilitating that transition.
According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, Ayton is expected to pick up his player options for his second season.
It’s no secret the Lakers are looking to upgrade at center (it should be noted Deandre Ayton is expected to pick up his player option and be back with the team).
The Lakers probably aren’t going to be surprised by this move. On a recent episode of NBA Today, Dave McMenamin of ESPN hinted that the team would have to look for a trade if he does opt in.
Again, he had a good season last year and will have trade value. The Lakers can look to move him for a piece that fits better on the roster, whether that’s a lob-catching center or an athletic wing.
Even if the fit didn’t work between him and the Lakers, it was still a fun season with some fun moments. Theoretically, he could remain on the roster as a backup, but it’s probably in everyone’s best interest to part ways to find Ayton a team he better fits on and LA a player who fills a need.
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