Los Angeles Lakers Luka Doncic Deandre Ayton
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The Lakers’ next move may come down to one question: who’s the right center next to Luka?
The Los Angeles Lakers’ vision alongside Luka Doncic is coming into sharper focus and it does not appear to include Deandre Ayton long term. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, league chatter suggests the Lakers are actively reassessing their big-man rotation and weighing how aggressively to deploy their remaining assets.
On a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon made it clear that Los Angeles remains one of the league’s most appealing destinations for centers, particularly those eager to play next to Doncic.
“Big men will do back flips to be able to be in that Lakers uniform, paired with Luka,” MacMahon said. “I was talking an agent who’s got a big man, may or may not be on move, who would love to get his guy in L.A. Big men are going to want to play with Luka, that much I can assure you.”
That appeal matters. The Lakers are still lacking a dependable, high-motor pick-and-roll partner for Doncic, and recent developments suggest Ayton is no longer viewed as that solution.
Ayton’s Production vs. Trust Gap
On paper, Ayton’s numbers are respectable. He is averaging 14.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game while shooting a career-best 68.9 percent from the field. Those figures suggest efficiency and interior scoring.
The problem lies elsewhere. Ayton’s effort and consistency have come under increased scrutiny during a recent rough stretch. In several late-game situations, Jaxson Hayes has closed games ahead of him, not because of upside, but because of reliability and energy.
That is not a knock on Hayes. It is an indictment of the trust gap that has formed with Ayton. For a team attempting to contend in the Western Conference, that issue is difficult to overlook.
This season also carries added weight for Ayton personally. He is approaching a pivotal contract decision, with only one guaranteed year remaining if he opts into his $8 million player option. The pairing with Doncic increasingly feels like a short-term experiment rather than a long-term partnership.
Lakers’ Asset Flexibility and Deadline Strategy
The Lakers’ front office is now balancing urgency with optionality. According to ESPN, general manager Rob Pelinka is exploring whether the team can convert one of its distant future first-round picks, either 2031 or 2032, into multiple firsts.
That approach would give Los Angeles more leverage in negotiations, especially when combined with expiring contracts such as Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber.
Several centers have already been linked to the Lakers in league conversations. Names mentioned include Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton, and Robert Williams III, among others. Each brings a different mix of rim protection, mobility, and effort that fits more cleanly alongside Doncic’s offensive gravity.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha recently shed further light on how this process began. Speaking on Buha’s Block, Buha revealed that Doncic had a direct role in identifying preferred frontcourt partners during his initial meeting with Pelinka.
“They just traded for Luka; they have the meeting in Rob’s office with ‘Which centers do you want to play with?’” Buha said. “Several of the centers on the list were Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, and, I believe, Nic Claxton was also on that list. They tried to get all three of those guys with the Dalton Knecht package, but they did not get any of them. The one guy they were able to land was Mark Williams, who I do believe was lower on the list overall. Onyeka Okongwu was also on that list. They were not able to get Okongwu either.”
That context matters. It suggests the Lakers are still working backward toward Doncic’s original vision, not pivoting randomly at the deadline. Most of the names Doncic originally targeted seem to be unavailable. But the kind of center he is looking to partner with is seen through the choices he put together. That gives Pelinka something to work with as he continues to canvas the trade market.
Pressure to Act
At 28-17, Los Angeles sits firmly in the playoff picture but has not yet separated itself from the West’s second tier. The Lakers know Doncic elevates the ceiling. What is still unclear is whether the roster around him will be optimized in time.
Whether Pelinka opts for a major move now or preserves flexibility for the summer, the direction is evident. The Lakers are searching for a new identity in the frontcourt and the clock is ticking.