Remember when the Lakers made waves in the 2025 offseason by signing Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal? It seemed like a steal after he parted ways with the Trail Blazers.
Fast forward to mid-March, and it’s clear that Ayton’s career resurgence in LA hasn’t gone as planned. The regular season is winding down, and fans are still questioning whether he’ll embrace his role.
Recently, Ayton expressed his frustration in an ESPN interview, stating the Lakers were trying to mold him into a Clint Capela-type player, a role he’s not keen on. Ironically, that’s exactly what the Lakers need-a defensive anchor and lob threat.
If Ayton can adapt, it could boost the Lakers’ playoff hopes as they sit fourth in the West. But the chances of that transformation seem slim.
The Trail Blazers might have been onto something when they decided to part ways with Ayton. Reports highlighted his issues with punctuality and effort, which contributed to Portland’s decision. While we can’t see everything happening behind closed doors in LA, his struggles with self-awareness and effort are evident on the court.
In an attempt to motivate Ayton, the Lakers have gone as far as creating a t-shirt depicting him as a lion and branding his water bottle with “DA's Crunk Juice.” Despite these efforts, Ayton hasn’t lived up to expectations, leaving Jaxson Hayes as the more dependable option at center-a surprising turn of events.
The Lakers are still searching for their future centerpiece, while the Trail Blazers have found theirs in Donovan Clingan, a player who fits the bill of what LA has been seeking. The Lakers might have thought they struck gold with Ayton’s unexpected availability in free agency, but a closer look at his past stints in Portland and Phoenix might have told them otherwise.