Hollywood is dreaming up the perfect blockbuster right now with the rumors of Andrew Wiggins being a trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers swirling. Before Rob Pelinka can make that big move, the Lakers general manager will need to know if Deandre Ayton is the solution at starting center.
It has been made abundantly clear by multiple sources that the Lakers will be looking for a two-way upgrade on the wings. Wiggins fits the mold and brings plenty of upside to Los Angeles, making him a realistic game-changer that fans have begged for in the hopes of seeing the Lakers chase a title.
However, the asset pool in Los Angeles is limited. Pelinka will only get so many cracks at improving the roster before the eventual 2026 NBA trade deadline. That is why seeing what they have in Ayton is integral to the process.
The former Portland Trail Blazers center arrived in Los Angeles to mixed feelings. On one hand, Ayton is guaranteed to be an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes. That does not mean the Lakers are completely absolved of concerns at the center position ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Lakers need clarity on Ayton before making the move for Wiggins
It should be said there is no guarantee that Wiggins will just be handed to the Lakers. If Pat Riley proves to be a stubborn negotiator, Pelinka will need a backup plan. However, even if the name is not Wiggins, the model of what the Lakers want is clear.
Ayton just needs to tick the needed boxes for Los Angeles first. With Luka Doncic setting him up, the Lakers center should have an easy time settling in to a simplified offensive role, while focusing on his defensive impact.
If that is the version of Ayton that the Lakers get, the opportunities to elevate the roster further will be there. Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast could not help but share a similar message regarding the situation.
Vecenie said, "If Ayton is good, it makes life a lot easier. ... The reason to not do that [Wiggins trade] now is that you might need that pick value at some point to go get a center if it doesn't work."
There will certainly be names worth monitoring if the Ayton experiment does not produce the desired results. Centers like Jarrett Allen, Nikola Vucevic, and Nicolas Claxton could all be available before the trade deadline under the right circumstances.
The Lakers will hope they do not need that move. Getting an opportunity to improve the roster, rather than fix it, will be the maneuver that makes pursuing a title a realistic path in the upcoming season.