Luka Doncic Reportedly 'Excited' to Play with Deandre Ayton on Lakers After Contract
Everything the Los Angeles Lakers do going forward will be done with Luka Dončić in mind. The team's latest move, signing center Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million deal, reportedly has his blessing.
Dan Woike and David Aldridge of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that "Dončić, according to league sources, is excited about the opportunity to play with Ayton."
How well the Dončić and Ayton pick-and-roll coalesces will be a major factor in determining whether the big man's signing was ultimately a success. The Lakers will be hoping to get the version of Ayton who helped the Phoenix Suns reach the NBA Finals in the 2020-21 season rather than the version who didn't leave a great impression in his two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, the Blazers "couldn't live with [Ayton's] bad ways. The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort."
That—along with a logjam at center that includes Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III and rookie first-rounder Yang Hansen—led the Blazers to buying out Ayton's $35.6 million contract. The veteran center reportedly gave up $10 million to facilitate the buyout.
Ayton has averaged a double-double for his career (16.4 PPG, 10.5 RPB), but more importantly for the Lakers will be whether his right knee—tendonitis has been an issue—will allow for him to be an effective lob threat for Dončić. Just as crucial will be whether Ayton addresses the fluctuating effort levels that have irked his coaches in the past and assuredly will rankle both head coach J.J. Redick and the proverbial coach on the floor, LeBron James, if they continue.
But the Lakers needed a center and Ayton was arguably the best option for them remaining in free agency. If they can get the best out of him, he'll be a major asset.
Quick noted that when Ayton arrived in Portland, "he envisioned himself as the cornerstone, the big fish, and he acted like it." In Los Angeles, there is no question that Dončić and James sit atop the pecking order. Ayton is no longer the big fish, but there's a solid role for him in the pond if he embraces it.
