Translator's note: The original text was published on Lakers Daily. The data in the article were as of the time of the original text (August 24 local time). The dates and times involved were local time
. Perhaps the most eye-catching operation of the Lakers offseason was signed with center player DeAndre Ayton after being cut by the Trail Blazers and passing the clarification period.
When the Lakers entered the free market, there happened to be a huge gap in the center position, and now they have found the answer to the starting center position in the new season in the former No. 1 pick.
When joining the Lakers, Ayton was carrying a frustrating reputation of being gifted but in a discontinuous state. The center has been an excellent scorer and rebounder since embarking on the NBA. He is the first player to average double-digit points and rebounds per game in each of his first seven seasons of his career since Dwight Howard. But some believe that Ayton lacks continuous effort and resilience in playing, and that has prevented him from realizing his full potential as a basketball player.
What would be the best situation for Ayton's first season with the historic Lakers, considering his complex reputation?
Average of more than 20 points per game for the first time in his career
Last season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points per game, tying the lowest record in his career. But when discussing the best situation, the former Arizona star might be able to play a surprisingly important offensive role in the 2025-26 season.
Except for the on-court commander Chris Paul, the inside player has never fought alongside organizers of the level of LeBron James and Luca Doncic before joining the Lakers. By working with them, Ayton will have several easy points in every game. Doncic and James will attract a lot of attention for Ayton, so he will also get more open shots than ever before and shoot higher percentages. In his first season with the Lakers, Ayton will average more than 20 points per game, shooting 60% from the field and 75% from the basket. From a scoring perspective, this will be Ayton's best season in his career, as he has never averaged more than 18.2 points per game in a single season in his NBA career.
Ayton has been a proven and capable scorer, but in his first season in his Lakers jersey, he will establish himself as one of the league's top scoring centers considering his combination of scoring output and efficiency.
became the defensive backbone of the league's top ten teams
Aiton is known for his offensive influence, but on the defensive end, he is far from the most honored inside player in the league. Eaton has never been selected into the All-Defensive Team since entering the NBA.
But early in their career, Ayton was the starting center for the Suns, when they achieved a 51-win record in the shrinking 2020-21 season and eventually made it to the 2021 NBA Finals. The Suns had the league's sixth defensive efficiency during the regular season, while Ayton continued to contribute in steals and blocks in 69 games he played. In addition, in the 2021 NBA playoffs, his defensive efficiency value is 107.8, making him one of the best of all starting centers.
By playing alongside excellent defensive players such as defender Marcus Smart and forward Jared Vanderbilt, Ayton will be the underrated defender early in his career. He will be the backbone of the Lakers’ defensive end, helping the team enter the top ten at the end of the new season, and criticisms about his lack of effort and concentration on the defensive end will also be calmed down.
tied his playoff record in the 2026 NBA playoffs
In 2021, Ayton averaged 15.8 points per game with a shooting percentage of 65.8%, becoming the first player in NBA history to average at least 15 points and shooting percentage exceeding 60% in the playoffs. If all goes well, Ayton will achieve this again in the 2026 NBA playoffs. And from a scoring perspective, he will once again playoff performance.
Ayton will become a dominant offensive player in the playoffs, and because of this, the team will unexpectedly make it to the Western Conference Finals. In the Western Conference Finals, with the Big Three of Doncic, James and Ayton, the Lakers will bring huge challenges to the defending champion Thunder, but were eventually eliminated after six games.
Given Ayton's outstanding performance in the 2026 NBA playoffs, public opinion will generally believe that it is a wise move to stay him for a long time. There seems to be an excellent chemistry between Ayton and Doncic, and under their leadership, the Lakers will be able to remain competitive in the West for many years in the future.
Author: Jesse Cinquini
Translator: GWayNe
source:ty so truc tuyen 7cm n