The Los Angeles Lakers thought they had figured out their frontcourt issue entering the 2025-26 campaign by signing a 7-foot former Phoenix Suns center.
Unfortunately, the former lottery pick has been anything but elite in the low post, as his inconsistent play and questionable motor have resulted in a disappointing stint in Los Angeles thus far.
As a result, Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts predicts the Lakers will move on from Luka Doncic’s underwhelming 27-year-old lob threat this summer after one season.
"The Lakers were quiet at the trade deadline to preserve their offseason 'flexibility', Watts wrote last Saturday. “Luka Doncic was rumored to be on board with that plan, but it puts pressure on the franchise to make the right changes.”
“Adding pieces means subtracting from the current group, and some divorces will be more painful than others. The Lakers will likely try to find a trade partner to take Deandre Ayton if he opts into his $8.1 million player option.”
It isn’t challenging to get a good read on Ayton at this stage of his career. The Arizona product can be a dominant double-double machine one night and a disinterested low-post weapon the next.
In other words, Ayton remains a wild card, making him an asset the Lakers shouldn't hesitate to part ways with in the offseason (they need stability in the frontcourt).
The ex-McDonald’s All-American is contributing 12.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game with the Lakers this season, connecting on 66.7% of his field goals in 52 contests.
It’s unlikely Ayton will compete with the Lakers beyond the 2025-26 campaign.
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