The Los Angeles Lakers biggest offseason move was signing a center to pair with Luka Doncic, and choosing Deandre Ayton is turning into an absolute disaster for Rob Pelinka and the front office. Nobody knows what to expect. There are nights when Ayton plays with no energy and is a total non-factor. Even in his best games, the big man isn’t fully bought into the role the Lakers need.
The Lakers should send Ayton to the bench, but it would mean losing him entirely. Everyone knows the big man can be a game-changer, especially in LA. Doncic thrives with a lob threat capable of protecting the rim. This is the perfect opportunity for the former number one overall pick to play for a contender and prove he can impact winning. Instead, it is blowing up in the Lakers' faces.
This one falls on Rob Pelinka and the front office. Luka requested a center the moment he arrived in Los Angeles. It appeared the Lakers got him Mark Williams, but the trade was rescinded because of a failed physical. The pressure swung to the offseason, and Pelinka again botched things.
It’s time for Rob Pelinka to admit that signing Deandre Ayton was the wrong move
Ayton is putting up numbers, but not impacting winning. He averages 13.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game. The seven-footer is shooting 66.5 percent from the field, but the Lakers have a negative-2.3 net rating with him on the floor. Their defense gives up an atrocious 120.5 points per 100 possessions, and LA’s offense actually slips slightly.
The biggest problem is that Ayton fails to play his role. He thinks he is a superstar and should be fed the ball. His focus is not on helping the team win, but getting numbers. The Lakers have Luka, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Those are their stars, and the players who should be fed first.
This can’t be a surprise to Pelinka and the front office. The Suns and Blazers dumped Ayton for similar issues. His up-and-down energy and attitude are not conducive to helping a contender. The Lakers literally don’t know what to expect on any given night. When Ayton is not playing with energy, head coach JJ Redick is quickly forced to find an alternative solution.
The big man continues to start, but is rarely part of Redick’s closing lineup. Los Angeles needs every win and can’t risk a defensive mistake or mental error costing them. Ayton has the talent, but he can’t put it all together to be a dominant force.
The Lakers signed Ayton to a two-year contract after he was bought out by the Blazers. He has an $8.1 million player option for next season, but he cannot be back in Los Angeles. The purple and gold want to remake their roster around Luka. Fans have already found out DA doesn’t fit.
Rob Pelinka must admit his biggest offseason move has turned into a total disaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. Give him credit for landing Doncic and giving the franchise a bright future. Even that only works if Pelinka puts the right pieces around his superstar. So far, that hasn’t been the case. There is much work to be done, and fans are praying Pelinka gets it right this summer.