The Los Angeles Lakers have made a bold move by picking up Deandre Ayton, and while there is some real upside here, not everyone is buying in. In fact, as soon as the second Charles Barkley started hyping it up, you could hear the collective groan from Lakers fans across the internet.
Why? Because when Barkley starts gassing up a player, it usually goes one of two ways: bad or worse.
“You know what’s going to be different? He’s going to be a free agent,” Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “Those are the most dangerous guys. If he doesn’t ball out playing with LeBron [James] or Luka [Doncic], he’s never going to ball out. You talk about the perfect scenario.”
Charles Barkley’s praise has Lakers fans nervous
Barkley has a long, proud history of jinxing players, teams, coaches, entire playoff runs, you name it. If Chuck calls you dangerous, you might want to double-check your footing. His praise is like saying “What could go wrong?” before a horror movie jump scare.
Still, setting the Barkley curse aside, Ayton does land in one of the best spots of his career.
Playing alongside LeBron and Luka, two of the smartest and most unselfish stars in the game, means Ayton will not be asked to do too much. He just needs to do his job. Rebound, protect the rim, run the floor, and stay locked in.
That is the catch. Ayton has all the tools you want in a modern big. He has the size, the soft touch, mobility, a smooth jumper, and enough length to be a serious presence in the paint. But for years now, the conversation has not been about his skill; it has been about his effort, and whether he really wants it.
His numbers with the Portland Trail Blazers last season, 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, look fine on paper. They did not translate into impact. Too often, he disappeared. Games would go by where you would forget he was even on the court. That just can’t happen in Los Angeles.
The Lakers need him to be reliable and fully engaged. This roster is not going to be waiting around for him to figure it out.
At 27 years old, this is the heart of his prime. A strong season could lead to a massive deal in 2026. Another flat one? That is how you end up bouncing around team to team on short-term deals.
The opportunity is there. The path is clear. But with Barkley already calling it the “perfect scenario,” fans can’t help but brace for the worst. If there’s one thing shakier than Ayton’s motor, it’s Barkley's predictions.