Lakers center Deandre Ayton
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton during a game against the Golden State Warriors in October 2025
For years, the Los Angeles Lakers have searched for stability at the center position, cycling through short-term fixes in what has become a revolving door.
Last offseason, the Lakers signed former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton in hopes of finally establishing a long-term anchor in the frontcourt.
Instead, Ayton’s inconsistency has kept questions alive. His fluctuating performances have drawn increasing scrutiny, raising fresh doubts about his future in Los Angeles.
Even after one of his strongest individual outings of the season on Tuesday night, those concerns have not disappeared.
Lakers Fall to Magic Despite Deandre Ayton’s Strong Showing
The Lakers suffered a narrow 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic, with LeBron James missing a fadeaway three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Ayton delivered an efficient performance, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes, on 8-of-11 shooting.
In a notable shift, Lakers head coach JJ Redick kept Ayton on the floor down the stretch, a decision that has not always been the case this season.
However, the broader impact told a more complicated story. Ayton finished as a minus-two, with Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. going for 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Paolo Banchero proved even more decisive, erupting for 36 points and 10 rebounds, with 10 of his 12 made field goals coming inside the arc.
Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes Ayton’s box score masked deeper issues late in the game.
“The big man finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but he was hunted down the stretch by the Magic,” Watts wrote. “Head coach JJ Redick finally trusted Ayton to close the game, but it gave Paolo Bachero someone to feast on.”
“Fans wanting more of the big man found out why Redick often goes away from Ayton down the stretch. He was a target on defense and didn’t space the floor on the final play.”
“The Magic’s game-winner was a Carter Jr. putback in the final seconds with Ayton switched onto the perimeter. Orlando hunted the big man, and it opened things up for an easy bucket.”
Los Angeles Facing Growing Questions About Center Position
Beyond the individual matchup, Orlando controlled key physical areas of the game.
The Magic outrebounded the Lakers 47-39, including 12 offensive rebounds, and held a clear advantage in interior scoring, outpacing Los Angeles 58-50 in the paint.
Ayton’s immediate future could hinge on his $8.1 million player option this offseason. His decision will likely depend on the external market, though his uneven season may limit more lucrative opportunities elsewhere.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton has already identified center as a priority area for the Lakers this summer, signaling that roster changes could arrive regardless of Ayton’s decision.
Some observers believe those changes should come swiftly. Lake Show Life’s Jordanna Clark urged the franchise to move on entirely.
“The 27-year-old has an $8.1 million player option he will probably pick up this summer, and when he does, Los Angeles needs to put an end to the Ayton experiment and try to find a trade,” Clark wrote.
Through 49 games, Ayton is averaging a career-low 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds, along with just under one block per game, while shooting an efficient 66.7 percent from the field in 28.2 minutes per night.
As a team, the Lakers have stumbled slightly, losing four of their last six games and finishing an eight-game homestand with a 4-4 record.
At 34-23, Los Angeles now sits sixth in the Western Conference, just two games clear of the Phoenix Suns and the play-in zone.
With the postseason approaching and offseason decisions looming, Ayton’s role and future remain firmly under the microscope.