The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler that changed Deandre Ayton’s future. Ayton opted in for $8.1 million next season, but he won’t be the starting center in LA. The Lakers gave up a massive haul of draft picks and rewarded Kessler with $130 million. He is the starting center Luka wanted, which leaves Ayton in a tricky spot. The former number one overall pick has to embrace his new reality as the backup playing 16 to 20 minutes per game to stay with the purple and gold.
Ayton has come off the bench seven times in his eight-year NBA career. The former number one overall draft pick was a reserve in six games after returning from injury in his sophomore season and once as a rookie. He hasn’t come off the bench since August 10, 2020, inside the bubble. The 27-year-old chose the Lakers after his buyout last summer because he could be the starting center, but the Kessler trade changed that.
This is Luka’s team. Rob Pelinka reshaped the entire roster around number 77. Doncic wanted an upgrade at the five, so the Lakers paid a massive price to acquire one. Ayton is only staying with the franchise if he embraces backing up Kessler and playing a lesser role.
Deandre Ayton must accept being Walker Kessler’s backup to stay with the Lakers
Ayton played his way off two franchises before arriving in Los Angeles. His inconsistent effort was a problem for the Lakers last season. He bought into a lesser role in the playoffs and helped the franchise make it to the second round without their best player, but he was still starting. Credit to Ayton for that. Now, he must take another step back to stay in LA.
Things are complicated. The Lakers have one second-round draft pick and a 2032 first-round pick swap to trade after giving up two firsts and two swaps to land Kessler. Ayton is on an $8.1 million expiring salary, but no team is eager to trade for him. The Lakers can’t afford to attach draft capital to dump him. If he wants out, Los Angeles should keep him home until they can find a trade using his expiring salary closer to the deadline.
Ayton can’t be surprised. He opted in knowing that Luka wanted the Lakers to trade for a starting center. The seven-footer was trying to maximize his earnings, but that means embracing a bench role now.
The Lakers have the ideal role for Ayton. He has refused to embrace it, but the seven-footer could be one of the best backup big men in the NBA. Ayton can use his offensive skill to dominate second unit big men and wreak havoc as an offensive rebounder.
All DA has to do is buy into the role. It won’t land him another max contract, but it is Ayton’s path to playing 15 years in the NBA. On the nights where he doesn’t have it, the team can quickly bench him. It is perfect for Ayton to put down his best tape and make the biggest impact on a contender.
The Los Angeles Lakers have to figure out Deandre Ayton’s future. Accepting a bench role behind Walker Kessler is the former number one overall pick's only path to staying on the team. It would be a massive shift for Ayton, but other talented big men have embraced it in the past. This is a story to watch as the offseason continues to unfold. Â
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