All issues thought-about, the Los Angeles Lakers had a surprisingly robust offseason. That’s contemplating that they needed to remake their roster on a budget. They added Marcus Sensible, Jake LaRavia, and most notably Deandre Ayton. He who fell into their lap after he was waived by the Portland Path Blazers out of nowhere.
Whereas Ayton put up robust numbers in Portland, his work ethic and perspective drew scrutiny from these across the Blazers. Mixed along with his unceremonious exit from the Phoenix Suns, it seems that his popularity across the NBA is already within the tank.
Luckily for him, and the Lakers, he’ll get a second likelihood—a 3rd likelihood—to show himself. Higher nonetheless, he might be paired with Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Each gamers are elite passers and will hopefully assist get Ayton open seems and unlock his potential. If they will, then the Lakers might have a large steal on their arms.
Deandre Ayton is a low-risk, high-reward gamble for the Los Angeles Lakers
Ayton’s work ethic has lengthy been a bugaboo for groups, and it seems that just by enjoying in Los Angeles, the Lakers have gotten Doncic to purchase in. If they will persuade Ayton to do the identical, then they might have a significantly better group than most followers and critics have given them credit score for.
In that case, the Lakers could have been gifted with a much-needed improve courtesy of the Blazers, who washed their arms of him. Given how dire their want for an improve on the middle is, they actually hope so with the idea of Ayton being an ideal match.
He’s a lob risk, a powerful rebounder, and an impactful defender when engaged. That pushes Jaxson Hayes to backup middle, a task that he’s significantly better fitted to, and provides the Lakers extra depth at a place of want.
Think about Ayton abruptly rising as an all-star seven seasons into his profession. The remainder of the NBA would lose their collective minds. It will additionally imply they might carry him again after subsequent season, dipping into their 2026 cap house to re-sign him, understanding that he might be their beginning middle of the longer term.
All instructed, Ayton is a worthwhile gamble for the Lakers. If he can lastly reside as much as the lofty expectations positioned on him, being taken first total in 2019, then Los Angeles would have a diamond within the tough.
