The Los Angeles Lakers have finally found a center after having very little quality at the position.
That center is none other than former top pick Deandre Ayton, who will now helm the middle for the Lakers, joining LeBron James and Ayton’s fellow 2018 draft selection Luka Dončić. The deal is for two years, with Ayton having a player option for 2026-27.
So, let’s get the ball rolling and ask the big questions.
What type of player is joining the Lakers?
Ayton provides the Lakers with a steady double-double presence. He can basically sleepwalk his way to 10 rebounds a night, with a career average of 10.2 boards over seven seasons.
The scoring, which comes primarily close to the rim and on short mid-range shots, is an element of much debate, given that Ayton has been a little all over the place during his career.
Last season, his second and final in Portland, he averaged just 14.4 points despite several seasons of being around 17-18 per game. Fit, situation, role and effort have all played big factors in how comfortable he’s felt with the ball in his hands and how dedicated he’s been.
As for his defense, Ayton did make a remarkable turn during his rookie season, starting the year as one of the worst interior defenders in the league and ending as one of the better ones.
He’s maintained a solid defensive presence ever since, although he still isn’t as forceful as he could be. The 7-foot center is athletic, has a 7-5 wingspan and should be able to block at least two shots on even a bad night, just to send a message.
Instead, he chooses to prioritize defensive positioning (which isn’t a bad thing) over the bigger play, averaging a block per game over his career.
While he should be commended for that, there’s a psychological effect in sending back shots — a reminder to opponents of the danger of getting into the paint.
Perhaps with the Lakers, where he’ll be paired with the two best players he’s ever played with, he could end up adjusting his game somewhat.
But it’s on him to adjust.
So, are the Lakers legit contenders now?
While there isn’t a straightforward answer to that question, it’s tough to close the door on that possibility.
After all, the Lakers now have an elite guard, an elite wing and a productive center, with a high-scoring off-guard in the mix.
The foursome of Dončić, James, Ayton, and Austin Reaves certainly offers the Lakers a healthy foundation to build something, even if they did lose Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency.
If the organization is able to flip the contracts of Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent (both expiring at a total of $22.5 million) into something productive, such as a combo forward who can play both the three and the four like James, then it begins to look extremely encouraging.
Of course, that roster will have to be fully bought in to the season ahead for any title aspirations to be feasible.
Dončić will have to scream less at the referees. James will have to, once again, defy Father Time. Ayton will have to keep his motor going from October to June, and not shut it off a single time throughout a long season.
That’s the baseline, and those are all non-negotiables if the Lakers have any hope of making a title run.
We’ll see what the rest of the offseason offers, and if the Lakers can potentially improve their odds in pursuit of a championship.
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