Shams Wow: Ayton signs 2 year deal with Lakers

[enigmatics]

Seriously where are you guys getting this "lob threat" stuff from?

He has never played that way albeit had that awesome Valley Oop moment in 2021's playoffs. He's a middie jump shooting big man.

1) It's not a definition of his entire game, just a component thereof.
2) 2 of his 3 seasons with 100+ dunks came with Chris Paul, as did his 2 most efficient seasons...
3) He started banging middies and long twos a lot more from 2023 forward
4) In 2025, he was 7th in the league in volume of possessions as a roll man, and didn't shoot 58% on just jumpers

The capacity is there. Losing Chris Paul first to injury and then to other teams hurt. Ayton, however, is an excellent PnR player.

No one thinks of him as DeAndre Jordan or Derek Lively, but he's a high-quality PnR big.

I get that the PnR threat is there - but was speaking to Ooping specifically. Those are two separate goal posts in the narrative of Deandre Ayton.

[Mr B]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

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[tsherkin]

I get that the PnR threat is there - but was speaking to Ooping specifically. Those are two separate goal posts in the narrative of Deandre Ayton.

Dunks. Shots in the RA. I did discuss this. He's gonna murder it out of the PnR with Luka and Lebron. Especially Luka.

[lonea]

I get that the PnR threat is there - but was speaking to Ooping specifically. Those are two separate goal posts in the narrative of Deandre Ayton.

Dunks. Shots in the RA. I did discuss this. He's gonna murder it out of the PnR with Luka and Lebron. Especially Luka.

Haha, wishful thinking.

[tsherkin]

I get that the PnR threat is there - but was speaking to Ooping specifically. Those are two separate goal posts in the narrative of Deandre Ayton.

Dunks. Shots in the RA. I did discuss this. He's gonna murder it out of the PnR with Luka and Lebron. Especially Luka.

Haha, wishful thinking.

I mean, he has a demonstrable track record of offensive ability. The issues with him mostly come from other areas. I don't think offensive is going to be the problem.

[Archx]

Why are people still clowning the Lakers when they couldn't even get Capela? What's their next best option? Hayes who was a starting center playing 5mpg in the playoffs? Lol... If Ayton sucks they can just get rid of him after the season...

There is no way Ayton is worse than Hayes, Koloko and a two way guy Jamison. And who is left in the market? 40yo Horford?

[Ssj16]

If Ayton can't generate rim pressure next to Luka (and Lebron), then he's as bad as his detractors think he is.
There's no better chance than this to score a bajillion points.

Ayton has famously avoided any kind of fight at the rim, so let's see how he does with wide open alley-oops.

Whether or not he can prove 2021 wasn't a mirage on defense is the bigger question to me.

My Predction stats: Just for Ayton alone no one else. 20pts (maybe 25), 12 reb, 4-5 asts, 1-2 blks.

His going to be motivated and has stated he wants to be on a winning team, look what Luka did to Hayes in half a season, imagine what he can do with Ayton full seaon

Is this for 2 games?

[lonea]

It will be Kwame Brown vol 2.0 for the Lakers

Not at all. Kwame was horrendous in every aspect, and was traded for an all-star (Caron Butler). Ayton is the definition of consistent. He'll be absolutely feasting with Luka and LBJ.

KB gave effort, DA gives zero shts

[Andri]

Good signing given the price and the limited options Lakers had. Also acknowledging they want to keep certain degree of flexibility for the next 2 seasons.

Good upside, low downside.

[KyRo23]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

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Most laker fans seem pretty calm about the trade and are just happy that we don’t have to watch a center rotation of Hayes, Koloko and Jemeson. Y’all are the ones being weird about it all

[lonea]

They gave Luka and Bron a 7'1, rim running, shotblocking, jumpshooting, alleyoop catching, former #1 pick for NOTHING.. lmaooo West is cooked

you never seen him play eh?

[Jedi32]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

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No one said anything about a savior. When you have Luka and Lebron and as your first and second best players you just need nba level rotational players after that, and ayton is definitely that.

[lonea]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

Read on Twitter

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No one said anything about a savior. When you have Luka and Lebron and as your first and second best players you just need nba level rotational players after that, and ayton is definitely that.

ayton is not a rotational player, he's not even a role player. he's just an empty stats guy

if anything, Hachimura will get more touch than ayton

ayton will bring nothing to the game

[tsherkin]

No one said anything about a savior. When you have Luka and Lebron and as your first and second best players you just need nba level rotational players after that, and ayton is definitely that.

Yeah, he's literally there to give more than Jaxson Hayes and the remains of Alex Len (do people even know he played 2 playoff games for them last year?), right?

So yeah, DA comes with some flaws and issues and such... but by ACCIDENT, he will be superior to the void the Lakers put out there all last year.

[tsherkin]

ayton is not a rotational player, he's not even a role player. he's just an empty stats guy

if anything, Hachimura will get more touch than ayton

ayton will bring nothing to the game

Do you have something personal against him? It sure sounds like it.

All of what you said is wrong, man.

[MrGoat]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

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Honestly he's so out of position from the start there he's actually doing the smart thing and not picking up a foul trying to do anything there, that clip is actually more embarrassing for Jokic because he still didn't make that wide open layup

[Ruma85]

Why are people still clowning the Lakers when they couldn't even get Capela? What's their next best option? Hayes who was a starting center playing 5mpg in the playoffs? Lol... If Ayton sucks they can just get rid of him after the season...

There is no way Ayton is worse than Hayes, Koloko and a two way guy Jamison. And who is left in the market? 40yo Horford?

People don't like the Lakers, especially the delusional Laker fans.

[lonea]

ayton is not a rotational player, he's not even a role player. he's just an empty stats guy

if anything, Hachimura will get more touch than ayton

ayton will bring nothing to the game

Do you have something personal against him? It sure sounds like it.

All of what you said is wrong, man.

I just seen him play for multiple years.

But seems like you never seen him play extended period, man.

[tsherkin]

I just seen him play for multiple years.

But seems like you never seen him play extended period, man.

I'm quite familiar with Ayton, as it happens. I don't think you appreciate how terrible LA's frontcourt rotation was. Ayton's very likely going to be a 16/10 big on efficiency like 2021 and 2022 playing with Luka. That's a massive upgrade for them, even with his laziness on defense. If you can't see that, then you're blinded by your dislike of his flaws from his earlier seasons, point blank.

[Tottery]

I don't get the hate. Sure, Ayton has flaws, but he is still a level above Hayes. It was a cheap signing and for 2 seasons at most. Considering how dry the center market is, this was good.