If Deandre Ayton doesn’t show out in this year’s NBA Playoffs, his NBA career could quickly spiral into a downturn. The Los Angeles Lakers need Ayton to perform at a high level if they want a chance against the Houston Rockets in the first round, especially without Luka Doncic. And if he doesn’t, that, combined with his relatively underwhelming first season, could signal the beginning of the end.
Ayton is still only 27 years old, but he played the fewest minutes of his career this season, took the fewest shots, and seemed to have a pretty small impact at times. It just wasn’t the year LA likely hoped for when they signed him last summer.
And that’s not a great sign for Ayton.
Deandre Ayton's career could spriral if the playoffs don't go well
When the Phoenix Suns traded Ayton in the summer of 2023, it marked a turning point in his career. The high-caliber defender who helped lead the Suns to an NBA Finals appearance was no longer.
With the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton still got decent minutes, but his play wasn’t really in line with the direction the Blazers wanted to go in as an organization.
So, they bought him out, and Ayton inked a deal with the Lakers this summer. A deal that, in theory, should have been a perfect new start for the former No. 1 overall pick.
Ayton would be playing alongside Doncic, who is known to help elevate whatever center he is playing next to, as well as LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
However, though Ayton still gave the Lakers some decent minutes at times, his production wasn’t exactly what LA wanted. Instead, by the end of the year, Jaxson Hayes was slowly creeping up on him in minutes per game.
Combined with some of the behind-the-scenes drama that Ayton brought to the table (consistent with other stops in his career), it was a less-than-stellar year for the big man.
The playoffs could change everything. If Ayton plays well, it could help change the perspective of him in LA, and he could once again be the team’s go-to guy next year.
But at this point, it seems likely that the Lakers will go scouting for a new starting center for next season. And if it didn’t work out for Ayton at a third straight stop, then the rest of his career may not look ideal.
Ayton could end up team-hopping from roster to roster until eventually fading out of the NBA. But again, the postseason could change all of that.
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