UglyBugBall wrote:Not even kidding, this might go down as one of the best signings the Lakers have made in the last 10–15 years.
Ayton catches way too much hate, but people forget he’s a legit 7 footer who’s averaged a double-double basically every season since he came into the league. He’s not just tall he’s skilled. Soft touch around the rim, can hit that short midrange, strong rebounder, and when he’s locked in defensively, he can anchor a team.
People clown him for the Suns stuff, but he helped take that team to the Finals. That playoff run wasn’t a fluke, he was efficient as hell and made impact plays on both ends. Now he’s only 26 and landing on a Lakers team with actual structure, vets, and a chance to win again? This is the best possible spot for him.
He basically signed for the mid-level exception. That’s wild. You’re getting a potential all star caliber big for backup money. In today’s market, that’s insane.
Honestly, if he plays up to his potential, we’re talking best big on the Lakers since Shaq. No disrespect to Pau, Bynum, Dwight (the first time), or AD but Ayton’s ceiling as a true center, on both ends, is up there. If he stays healthy and puts together a few big years in LA, he’s absolutely in the Hall of Fame conversation down the road.
Perfect fit, great timing, and low risk/high reward. If it hits, we’ll be looking back at this as one of the smartest signings in modern Lakers history.
There is no f'n way I'm reading this in 2025. You might've got me pre-draft in 2018, maybe even after his rookie season but not in 2025