The Los Angeles Lakers recently secured center Deandre Ayton with a two-year, $16.6 million contract, a move that aligns closely with their focus on Luka Doncic‘s role. Reports indicate that Doncic supports the acquisition and is eager to share the court with Ayton, a pairing the Lakers hope will strengthen their championship ambitions.
Potential Impact of the Doncic-Ayton Pick-and-Roll Partnership
The success of the Lakers’ latest addition will largely depend on how well the pick-and-roll between Doncic and Ayton functions. The team is banking on Ayton regaining the form he showed with the Phoenix Suns during their 2020-21 NBA Finals run, which contrasts with his uneven tenure in Portland. Much rides on Ayton’s ability to become an effective lob target for Doncic and contribute consistently on both ends of the floor.
Challenges Behind Ayton’s Departure from Portland
Ayton’s time with the Portland Trail Blazers ended amid concerns about his professionalism and effort. According to a team source, issues included tardiness to flights and practices, missing rehabilitation sessions, and visible frustration during games. The source added,
“The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort.”
—team source
These behaviors, combined with a crowded center position including Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and rookie Yang Hansen, prompted Portland to buy out the final year of Ayton’s $35.6 million contract, with the veteran reportedly forfeiting $10 million to enable the move.
Assessing Ayton’s Health and Consistency for Lakers’ Success
Throughout his career, Ayton has averaged a double-double with 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. However, the Lakers will closely monitor his knee issues, specifically tendonitis, which could affect his ability to execute plays effectively with Doncic. Equally critical will be whether Ayton can maintain consistent effort levels, as previous fluctuations have frustrated coaches and would likely concern head coach J.J. Redick and veteran leader LeBron James.
Adapting to a New Role in Los Angeles
Jason Quick of The Athletic observed Ayton’s mindset upon joining Portland:
“he envisioned himself as the cornerstone, the big fish, and he acted like it.”
—Jason Quick
In Los Angeles, the hierarchy clearly places Doncic and James at the top. Ayton will need to accept a different role, but if he embraces it, there is potential for him to become a valuable contributor in a team built around two established superstars.
Looking Ahead: The Lakers’ Championship Outlook
Adding Ayton fills a crucial need at center for the Lakers and could significantly enhance their frontcourt presence if he returns to his higher performance levels. With Doncic’s enthusiasm about this partnership, the team hopes to develop a strong inside-outside game dynamic that positions them well as contenders in the coming seasons. How Ayton adapts to this environment and addresses past challenges will be key factors shaping the Lakers’ success moving forward.