The Los Angeles Lakers do not view Deandre Ayton as the long-term answer at the five, according to Bleacher Report's NBA insider Jake Fischer. The seven-footer has produced strong numbers to start his time in LA, but there have been underlying warts. Ayton’s struggles to anchor the defense have head coach JJ Redick searching for answers. The worries are quickly mounting, but they may not last long.
The Lakers signed Ayton to a two-year $16.2 million contract in the offseason after he was bought out by the Blazers. The 2026-27 season is a player option. Even if Ayton opts in, Los Angeles isn’t viewing him as a long-term starter. The former number one overall pick is already on his third NBA team, and the Lakers cannot be a serious title contender with their defense being this bad.
Fischer thinks changes could be coming as soon as this offseason. He talked in-depth about the topic during his weekly video livestream notebook for Bleacher Report. Let’s dive into the details of what the insider said.
The Lakers view Deandre Ayton as a stopgap option
Fischer was talking about the Pacers being active in pursuit of a center ahead of the deadline before shifting to LA. Fans can read his quote below.
“Another team that we’re definitely expecting will look for big men moving forward because they don’t have their center of the future is the Los Angeles Lakers.”
The inside continued with more details, including the difference between Ayton and Mark Williams in the Lakers’ eyes.
“The Lakers could be front and center of any potential big man developments come this offseason. Deandre Ayton will only have one year left, and as well as he’s played there, I don’t think the Lakers ever really looked at Ayton as a long-term answer at center like they did once upon a time with that Mark Williams trade that got rescinded.”
This shouldn’t come as a shock. Ayton washed out in Phoenix and Portland after the franchises got fed up with him. He is loaded with talent, but the on-court impact never matches it. The Lakers have a 120.0 defensive rating with Ayton on the floor this season and are 1.5 points per 100 possessions overall better when he's on the bench.
The Lakers want to be serious title contenders. They have three superstars leading their roster, but need the role players around them.
Coach Redick is still trying to figure out how to maximize Luka Doncic. He just made a change to the star’s minutes pattern. LA knows number 77 wants to play with a center, and the Lakers should be looking for their long-term answer as a rim protector and lob target. Ayton isn’t the right fit, and the franchise has quickly reached that conclusion.
Fischer made it clear that the Lakers are searching for a 3-and-D wing before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but their focus will shift to the center position this offseason. The front office will have their 2026 first-round pick available on draft night and project to have cap space available. There will be multiple avenues to add a starting center, and fans know the Lakers will explore every one.
The Los Angeles Lakers clearly view Deandre Ayton as a short-term solution to their center needs. Jake Fischer believes adding at the five will be an offseason priority for LA.
Fans can’t be surprised. The starting five with Ayton has been problematic defensively. The Lakers need a top-ten defense to be a serious contender. That will only happen if they move on from DominAyton and upgrade in the middle. It could happen as soon as this summer, so fans should stay tuned.