The Los Angeles Lakers signed Deandre Ayton off waivers this summer in hopes of addressing his character concerns. He was expected to play alongside a starting lineup featuring LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves. Still, ESPN NBA reporter Kendrick Perkins called him a diva.
“The word around the league is not good about Deandre Ayton... right now he's been labeled as a diva, as a cancer in the locker room... he has to change a lot about himself or he will find his career being shortened,” Perkins said.
Ayton started off strong for the Lakers and was at one point considered the steal of the offseason. However, that success hasn’t lasted, and the Lakers may face challenges regarding Ayton this summer.
“The Los Angeles Lakers plan on improving their roster around Luka Dončić this summer, but they may have to deal with Deandre Ayton first. The player holds the power thanks to Rob Pelinka and the front office. They handed out a player option, and will instantly regret it if he opts in,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.
Looking forward, the Lakers may need to consider a full-time move to the bench for Ayton.
“Moving Ayton to the bench full-time may seem harsh, but it's needed. One thing no one can take away from him is that he can score. He was literally Pac-12 Player of the Year as a freshman at Arizona. So for LA, the best way to maximize Ayton's inside scoring is to let him come off the bench and focus on that part of his game. The Lakers don't ask much from their starting center (rebound, protect the rim, and catch lobs). Time and time again, Ayton has shown it's still too much. Pair that with his inability to play a consistent, complete game, and you have all the warning signs needed to remove him from the starting five entirely,” Lake Show Life’s Chris Lambert wrote.
Ayton can be extremely efficient at times, but consistency remains the problem. There are moments when it seems as if the center simply doesn’t want to be playing.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick hasn’t indicated that a bench role is imminent, but the move may be necessary. Los Angeles is focused on advancing past the first round this year, and maximizing Ayton’s contributions could require a drastic change.