Deandre Ayton's going to be enjoying a change of scenery when the upcoming season tips off. But the question is, will he finally be able to find his ideal role with the Los Angeles Lakers?
It's a worthwhile question, given that Ayton hasn't exactly passed every test he's gotten in his career with flying colors. There were plenty that questioned his effort and motivation in Phoenix, and then again in Portland. It's been probably the most common criticism levied against the big man.
That left many wondering what the Lakers were thinking when they signed Ayton. It's one of those situations where you have to ask yourself if you believe you can provide the circumstances necessary to flourish for this specific player, given that things have been so up and down for him in his career so far.
I mean, in theory, that's exactly what the Lakers are going to be able to provide for Deandre. When you talk about his specific skillset, you're looking at a guy who is the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic. He's going to be right in his element.
There's still plenty of questions surrounding Deandre Ayton
Doncic has a history of taking pretty average bigs and turning them into very efficient rollers and finishers. Just look at what he did for Christian Wood, Dwight Powell and Dereck Lively II in Dallas. Giving him a big guy with the physical profile of Ayton who is a former number one overall pick is a significant upgrade for number 77.
Arguably the second-biggest criticism that's been frequently made of Deandre is his sometimes-lacking defensive output. For all his length and athleticism, it's probably safe to say he should be a more sound defender more often than he is on the interior.
These two issues are where there's potential for complications in Los Angeles in the coming season. If Ayton doesn't show up for the season in his best shape, or if he gives JJ Redick, a known stickler for effort, reason to doubt his commitment early on, it could be a potentially big cause for concern.
Then once we get into the season, there's a world in which Deandre doesn't protect the paint well enough and it creates defensive holes that come back to bite the Lakers.
It just still feels like a situation where although there may be reasons for optimism, there are still more questions than answers.