The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting a strong performance following the All-Star break to secure one of the top four seeds in the Western Conference, which would enable them to gain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. This ambitious goal requires significant improvement from Deandre Ayton, a key offseason acquisition who has so far struggled to meet expectations.
In his inaugural season with the Lakers, the former number one overall pick has faced criticism and was recently highlighted as the sixth most overrated player in the NBA by Bleacher Report. Analyst Greg Swartz noted the challenges faced by centers lacking both rim protection and three-point shooting capabilities, stating that Ayton must demonstrate skill enhancement in his game or risk being sidelined in the future.
This season, Ayton has recorded career lows, averaging just 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Acquired on a two-year deal after being bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers for $27 million, he has also struggled defensively, allowing an alarming 59.3% shooting percentage on field-goal attempts made at the rim. This has placed additional strain on the Lakers, who currently rank 23rd in scoring defense and find themselves among the bottom five in opponents’ two-point field-goal percentage.
Despite holding an $8.1 million player option for the next season, Ayton’s future with the Lakers remains uncertain, especially given the pressure to perform alongside stars like LeBron James and potentially Luka Doncic. While the Lakers’ hopes for playoff success hinge on Ayton’s ability to bounce back, there remains an opportunity for him to turn his season around and contribute to the team’s aspirations.