Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers
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Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Not many folks in and around the Los Angeles Lakers universe were all that happy with starting center Deandre Ayton after comments he made that were quoted in an ESPN story suggesting that the Lakers are not properly utilizing his skills and that the team is trying to, “make me Clint Capela.”
The consensus among those who have watched the Lakers throughout the season–Ayton’s first in L.A.–was that the team might actually be a good deal better if only Ayton would play with the kind of defensive focus and high-motor approach that has defined Capela’s 12-year career. Ayton was the No. 1 pick, of course, back in 2018, and though his career has mostly flamed out in stops with the Suns and Blazers, he mostly still seems to think he should be treated as a No. 1 pick.
Ayton is averaging 12.8 points and 8.4 rebounds, both career lows. He’s also averaging a career-low 28.o minutes per game and, most tellingly, the Lakers’ offensive rating is 0.8 points worse when he is on the floor, and the defensive rating is 3.2 points worse, putting Ayton at a minus-.4.0 individual net rating.
Deandre Ayton Has 2nd-Worst Net Rating on Team
That, of course, is not good. Jake LaRavia is the only Lakers regular with a worse net rating (he’s at minus-6.7). Thus, it’s difficult to see Ayton carrying such an attitude of entitlement when he is not exactly carrying his weight on both ends of the floor.
Among those who are annoyed with Ayton’s stance is former Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal. Speaking on “Inside the NBA” on ESPN, O’Neal said that Ayton could benefit from emulating Capela.
“Kenny talks about this all the time—if you play hard, you can get things done. He is not Clint Capela because Clint Capela plays hard, every game,” O’Neal said. “Clint Capela is a role player. Deandre Ayton is a role player. You’re not going to be on the same team as LeBron and Luka and thinking you’re gonna get shots.
“However, though, all these plays right here, they are for you. If you just do your job, pick and rebound and run the court, you can get easy buckets. I wish my career was this easy.”
Shaquille O’Neal criticized Lakers center Deandre Ayton.
Getty Shaquille O’Neal criticized Lakers center Deandre Ayton.
Lakers Relying on X-Factor
Like many, O’Neal also feels that Ayton has the chance to be an X-factor for the Lakers, that if he can play well on both ends of the floor, things get much easier for L.A. The problem is that Ayton has not played that way all season–or, indeed, in his career, when he has typically been a featured player from the center spot.
Said O’Neal: “Listen, if you just shut the hell up and do your job and do it all the time and do it consistently, it wouldn’t be a problem. My problem with him is he don’t play hard all the time. He don’t play consistent all the time. … I don’t want to hear it from him, he don’t play hard all the time. He’s the key for them to get to that next level.”
And one of O’Neal’s partners on the studio show, Charles Barkley, pointed out that Ayton has it easy with his current teammates, and had it easy in Phoenix when he was playing with Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
“He insulted Clint Capela. Clint Capela’s had a better career than him. That’s the first thing. Clint Capela had a run,” Barkley said. “This guy has been in two of the best situations in sports.”