As the Los Angeles Lakers build around Luka Doncic moving forward, they need to make sure to put the perfect pieces around him. Last year, they ran a few trials. A few guys got small contracts, and some of them worked out. Take Marcus Smart, for instance. Others? Not so much. Deandre Ayton was pretty average, and sometimes, on the wrong side of average. Yet some may disagree.
Dan Woike of The Athletic had this to say: “Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart both outplayed their contracts a year ago and could opt into free agency.” Ayton outplayed his contract? I suppose, from a statistical standpoint, but overall? Doncic better hope the Lakers disagree with Woike.
Because if LA also believes that Ayton outplayed his contract, then not only may he be back in LA, but he could get a pay raise.
Luka Doncic better hope the Lakers move on from Deandre Ayton
Ayton is fine. He’s not spectacular. He’s not awful (usually). He’s just fine. And for a starting center, that’s not really what you want. In fact, that’s not ideal at all, especially next to a guy like Doncic.
During his first season with the Lakers, Ayton pretty much put up career-low numbers across the board. At times, he was outplayed by Jaxson Hayes, who ended up finishing some games for the big man.
He just doesn’t seem to have the dog in him that the Lakers need from their starting center. The dog that most teams want to see from most of their role players. The dog that keeps players on the court.
Ayton needs more fire. He needs more force. He needs to impose his will on both ends of the court as he did at Arizona, and as he did during his first few years in the NBA, when he was on the Phoenix Suns.
But that version of Ayton didn’t show up much with the Lakers. There were brief, fleeting flashes when he showed that side of himself, but it wasn’t nearly consistent enough.
So, as the Lakers look to build around Doncic, it makes sense for them to move on from Ayton and try to find another guy who fits alongside their superstar a bit better.
But if the Lakers believe that Ayton outperformed his contract? Then maybe he’ll be back. And that wouldn’t be great. Because LA can do much better at the five spot – starter and backup.
So, Doncic better hope the Lakers disagree with that notion.
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