Shams Wow: Ayton signs 2 year deal with Lakers

[Sixers in 4]

Agreed. There's was really no one else there. 8-9 million is fine for him. Maybe. 30+ is not.

I just think folks acting like they got a huge piece here should temper their expectations. He's not magically going to blossom into something he has shown he is not after several years of not doing so. He is what he is; warts and all.

I mean it's a move the Lakers needed to make from their perspective it's a good move.

I don't think we are going to see Ayton revitalize his career though. I mean LA has a lot of distractions and Ayton really needed to go to a boring place where there was nothing to do other than work. Indiana would have been perfect.

For 8M he doesn't need to be the best version of himself to a worthwhile signing. I just don't think it ends well for him in LA

I don't see why we wouldn't see a rejuvenated Ayton. I don't think people realize that how young he is with him only turning 27yo later this month and about to enter his prime. He has all the motivation in the world to bounce back and earn another massive payday next to two premier playmakers in Luka and Bron who had proven in their career that they can maximize a rim rolling big.

He's been humbled coming off a disatrous playoff showing in his final season in Phoenix and then spent 2 years on a rebuilding Portland team after they drafted not 1 but 2 centers to replace him after also trading for Robert Williams shortly after getting him. He's finally back on a competitive team that desperately needs his production up front and in arguably the biggest market in the league to reshape his image. I think he's going to have a massive year considering what the team had to work with last year with just Hayes or the undersized Rui/Vando.

Yeah love the energy not buying it though. Hope I am wrong. Are you so sure he is in LA because he wants to win or because of the lifestyle?

[Invictus88]

Agreed. There's was really no one else there. 8-9 million is fine for him. Maybe. 30+ is not.

I just think folks acting like they got a huge piece here should temper their expectations. He's not magically going to blossom into something he has shown he is not after several years of not doing so. He is what he is; warts and all.

I mean it's a move the Lakers needed to make from their perspective it's a good move.

I don't think we are going to see Ayton revitalize his career though. I mean LA has a lot of distractions and Ayton really needed to go to a boring place where there was nothing to do other than work. Indiana would have been perfect.

For 8M he doesn't need to be the best version of himself to a worthwhile signing. I just don't think it ends well for him in LA

I don't see why we wouldn't see a rejuvenated Ayton. I don't think people realize that how young he is with him only turning 27yo later this month and about to enter his prime. He has all the motivation in the world to bounce back and earn another massive payday next to two premier playmakers in Luka and Bron who had proven in their career that they can maximize a rim rolling big.

He's been humbled coming off a disatrous playoff showing in his final season in Phoenix and then spent 2 years on a rebuilding Portland team after they drafted not 1 but 2 centers to replace him after also trading for Robert Williams shortly after getting him. He's finally back on a competitive team that desperately needs his production up front and in arguably the biggest market in the league to reshape his image. I think he's going to have a massive year considering what the team had to work with last year with just Hayes or the undersized Rui/Vando.

Let me paraphrase the above:

"I am going to completely ignore the rest of the conversation. I am going to completely ignore the fact that he's acted one way for the first several years of his career across two teams and have expectations that are completely opposite of all data that we have available. It doesn't matter that he had CP3 (arguably one of the greatest distributors of all time) for him in Phoenix and he failed. It doesn't matter that he has claimed basically each and every offseason that this is going to be the year that things are different yet he ends up with the same results.

I WANT Ayton to be good because my narrative is such that I WANT this to be a success. And that is all that matters; evidence be damned."

[KyRo23]

This is your savior Lakers fans?

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?s=46&t=3KaI_3QT7XTTm5N8gt4yQg

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

Bro you have Lakers fans saying this signing guarantees them a title since Luka went to the finals with Dwight Powell.

Bro where

[tsherkin]

Agreed. There's was really no one else there. 8-9 million is fine for him. Maybe. 30+ is not.

I just think folks acting like they got a huge piece here should temper their expectations. He's not magically going to blossom into something he has shown he is not after several years of not doing so. He is what he is; warts and all.

This is a perfectly fair approach. This isn't some league-bending steal. It's a large upgrade over what they've had, though that's quite a low bar. But he can rebound, he can run the PnR, he can score a bit away from the rim and he isn't at all a disaster from the foul line. That's nice. It's not likely to suddenly make them a title contender, but it's a definite improvement, warts and all.

[phanman]

I mean it's a move the Lakers needed to make from their perspective it's a good move.

I don't think we are going to see Ayton revitalize his career though. I mean LA has a lot of distractions and Ayton really needed to go to a boring place where there was nothing to do other than work. Indiana would have been perfect.

For 8M he doesn't need to be the best version of himself to a worthwhile signing. I just don't think it ends well for him in LA

I don't see why we wouldn't see a rejuvenated Ayton. I don't think people realize that how young he is with him only turning 27yo later this month and about to enter his prime. He has all the motivation in the world to bounce back and earn another massive payday next to two premier playmakers in Luka and Bron who had proven in their career that they can maximize a rim rolling big.

He's been humbled coming off a disatrous playoff showing in his final season in Phoenix and then spent 2 years on a rebuilding Portland team after they drafted not 1 but 2 centers to replace him after also trading for Robert Williams shortly after getting him. He's finally back on a competitive team that desperately needs his production up front and in arguably the biggest market in the league to reshape his image. I think he's going to have a massive year considering what the team had to work with last year with just Hayes or the undersized Rui/Vando.

Let me paraphrase the above:

"I am going to completely ignore the rest of the conversation. I am going to completely ignore the fact that he's acted one way for the first several years of his career across two teams and have expectations that are completely opposite of all data that we have available. It doesn't matter that he had CP3 (arguably one of the greatest distributors of all time) for him in Phoenix and he failed. It doesn't matter that he has claimed basically each and every offseason that this is going to be the year that things are different yet he ends up with the same results.

I WANT Ayton to be good because my narrative is such that I WANT this to be a success. And that is all that matters; evidence be damned."

How exactly was his Phoenix stint a failure? - because they failed to win it all? You do realize that their inability to breakthrough wasn't all on Ayton right? He was drafted into a **** of an organization that only turned things around after Rubio's addition in the bubble season and then CP3 coming on board.

Friendly reminder he was still the starting center for a Phoenix team that a pretty successful 3 year run:
2021: won 51 games as the 2nd seed made a run to the Finals in 2021 (5th in ORTG & 9th DRTG)
2022: won a franchise record 64 games where they finished 1st (4th in ORTG, 3rd in DRTG)
2023: an overall weird campaign highlighted by the trade for KD to go 45-37 (14th in ORTG & 7th in DRTG)

It's not like he was featured offensively with both Book and CP3 commanding the offense and then lateron KD.

[NCHeels2008]

Agreed. There's was really no one else there. 8-9 million is fine for him. Maybe. 30+ is not.

I just think folks acting like they got a huge piece here should temper their expectations. He's not magically going to blossom into something he has shown he is not after several years of not doing so. He is what he is; warts and all.

This is a perfectly fair approach. This isn't some league-bending steal. It's a large upgrade over what they've had, though that's quite a low bar. But he can rebound, he can run the PnR, he can score a bit away from the rim and he isn't at all a disaster from the foul line. That's nice. It's not likely to suddenly make them a title contender, but it's a definite improvement, warts and all.

Where on the effort level scale do you think he will land between 21 Suns Ayton and 24 Blazers Ayton?

[tsherkin]

Where on the effort level scale do you think he will land between 21 Suns Ayton and 24 Blazers Ayton?

Which half of the season are we talking about, and how well is LA doing during that time?

[Invictus88]

I don't see why we wouldn't see a rejuvenated Ayton. I don't think people realize that how young he is with him only turning 27yo later this month and about to enter his prime. He has all the motivation in the world to bounce back and earn another massive payday next to two premier playmakers in Luka and Bron who had proven in their career that they can maximize a rim rolling big.

He's been humbled coming off a disatrous playoff showing in his final season in Phoenix and then spent 2 years on a rebuilding Portland team after they drafted not 1 but 2 centers to replace him after also trading for Robert Williams shortly after getting him. He's finally back on a competitive team that desperately needs his production up front and in arguably the biggest market in the league to reshape his image. I think he's going to have a massive year considering what the team had to work with last year with just Hayes or the undersized Rui/Vando.

Let me paraphrase the above:

"I am going to completely ignore the rest of the conversation. I am going to completely ignore the fact that he's acted one way for the first several years of his career across two teams and have expectations that are completely opposite of all data that we have available. It doesn't matter that he had CP3 (arguably one of the greatest distributors of all time) for him in Phoenix and he failed. It doesn't matter that he has claimed basically each and every offseason that this is going to be the year that things are different yet he ends up with the same results.

I WANT Ayton to be good because my narrative is such that I WANT this to be a success. And that is all that matters; evidence be damned."

How exactly was his Phoenix stint a failure? - because they failed to win it all? You do realize that their inability to breakthrough wasn't all on Ayton right? He was drafted into a **** of an organization that only turned things around after Rubio's addition in the bubble season and then CP3 coming on board.

Friendly reminder he was still the starting center for a Phoenix team that a pretty successful 3 year run:
2021: won 51 games as the 2nd seed made a run to the Finals in 2021 (5th in ORTG & 9th DRTG)
2022: won a franchise record 64 games where they finished 1st (4th in ORTG, 3rd in DRTG)
2023: an overall weird campaign highlighted by the trade for KD to go 45-37 (14th in ORTG & 7th in DRTG)

It's not like he was featured offensively with both Book and CP3 commanding the offense and then lateron KD.

If you don't think that he had any failures in Phoenix in what he did and what the team did or did not accomplish with the roster there then I agree that you should have no qualms about Ayton now. You should be just fine.

[phanman]

Let me paraphrase the above:

"I am going to completely ignore the rest of the conversation. I am going to completely ignore the fact that he's acted one way for the first several years of his career across two teams and have expectations that are completely opposite of all data that we have available. It doesn't matter that he had CP3 (arguably one of the greatest distributors of all time) for him in Phoenix and he failed. It doesn't matter that he has claimed basically each and every offseason that this is going to be the year that things are different yet he ends up with the same results.

I WANT Ayton to be good because my narrative is such that I WANT this to be a success. And that is all that matters; evidence be damned."

How exactly was his Phoenix stint a failure? - because they failed to win it all? You do realize that their inability to breakthrough wasn't all on Ayton right? He was drafted into a **** of an organization that only turned things around after Rubio's addition in the bubble season and then CP3 coming on board.

Friendly reminder he was still the starting center for a Phoenix team that a pretty successful 3 year run:
2021: won 51 games as the 2nd seed made a run to the Finals in 2021 (5th in ORTG & 9th DRTG)
2022: won a franchise record 64 games where they finished 1st (4th in ORTG, 3rd in DRTG)
2023: an overall weird campaign highlighted by the trade for KD to go 45-37 (14th in ORTG & 7th in DRTG)

It's not like he was featured offensively with both Book and CP3 commanding the offense and then lateron KD.

If you don't think that he had any failures in Phoenix in what he did and what the team did or did not accomplish with the roster there then I agree that you should have no qualms about Ayton now. You should be just fine.

Where did I say he had no failures? Stop making things up. I never said he had no faults I just simply stated that end of Phoenix's run can't be scapegoated squarely on Ayton's shoulders. Did he play a a role in it? - Of course, but everybody else has a hand in it as well. It shouldn't erase how productive he was when Phoenix went through the most successful 3 year run since Amare left to New York.

Yeah love the energy not buying it though. Hope I am wrong. Are you so sure he is in LA because he wants to win or because of the lifestyle?

Given how badly they need his production in the front court, there's a whole lot that needs to go wrong for him not to be successful. People mature as they get older and getting banished to Portland where he was no longer a focus point or building block can do wonders to help reset a player's mindset. Like I mentioned previously, he's about to enter his prime and there's a ton of money to be made with how massive these contracts have gotten with the new TV deal.

In regards to him being in LA, I think it's the best of both worlds. He has best opportunity to rebuild his value there and will walk into a guaranteed starting role/minutes with multiple player makers to spoon feed him looks for easy baskets.

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[John Murdoch]

Honestly id rather have him for damn near free and retain assetts over the Claxton move . Now if we can land Richards i think we r set. Still have to move Austin imo for a defensive wing

[mkot]

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.

Because he is a loser. He can't handle Suns fans, Monty Williams, CP3 and KD. LeBron, JJ Reddick and Lakers fans are going to break him.

[mkot]

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

Bro you have Lakers fans saying this signing guarantees them a title since Luka went to the finals with Dwight Powell.

Bro where

I was listening to a podcast and the guy reading out comments saying Lakers are title contender. Ayton is the missing piece and can beat OKC and Denver. Ayton is Lively on steroid etc etc., It's a Lakers podcast and half the comments he read are like that.

[tsherkin]

Bro you have Lakers fans saying this signing guarantees them a title since Luka went to the finals with Dwight Powell.

Bro where

I was listening to a podcast and the guy reading out comments saying Lakers are title contender. Ayton is the missing piece and can beat OKC and Denver. Ayton is Lively on steroid etc etc., It's a Lakers podcast and half the comments he read are like that.

Which podcast?

[Shaka_Zulu]

Bro you have Lakers fans saying this signing guarantees them a title since Luka went to the finals with Dwight Powell.

Bro where

I was listening to a podcast and the guy reading out comments saying Lakers are title contender. Ayton is the missing piece and can beat OKC and Denver. Ayton is Lively on steroid etc etc., It's a Lakers podcast and half the comments he read are like that.

These are what we call casuals. Types who barely watch more then half a dozen game all season.


Or just hot stakes chasing Internet trolls.


The same crowd who repeated Lakers in 4-5 in entire build up to the playoffs. Just say **** for **** and giggles, not rooted in reality.

[mkot]

Bro where

I was listening to a podcast and the guy reading out comments saying Lakers are title contender. Ayton is the missing piece and can beat OKC and Denver. Ayton is Lively on steroid etc etc., It's a Lakers podcast and half the comments he read are like that.

Which podcast?

Allen Sliwa, it's a Lakers pod

[tsherkin]

I was listening to a podcast and the guy reading out comments saying Lakers are title contender. Ayton is the missing piece and can beat OKC and Denver. Ayton is Lively on steroid etc etc., It's a Lakers podcast and half the comments he read are like that.

Which podcast?

Allen Sliwa, it's a Lakers pod

Unfamiliar. But that's a team podcast from a fan, so I don't know how much you want to take that to heart. It's not commentary you see much around here, and it IS the sort of homer nonsense you'd expect from a team podcast.

[lonea]

I don't see why we wouldn't see a rejuvenated Ayton. I don't think people realize that how young he is with him only turning 27yo later this month and about to enter his prime. He has all the motivation in the world to bounce back and earn another massive payday next to two premier playmakers in Luka and Bron who had proven in their career that they can maximize a rim rolling big.

He's been humbled coming off a disatrous playoff showing in his final season in Phoenix and then spent 2 years on a rebuilding Portland team after they drafted not 1 but 2 centers to replace him after also trading for Robert Williams shortly after getting him. He's finally back on a competitive team that desperately needs his production up front and in arguably the biggest market in the league to reshape his image. I think he's going to have a massive year considering what the team had to work with last year with just Hayes or the undersized Rui/Vando.

Let me paraphrase the above:

"I am going to completely ignore the rest of the conversation. I am going to completely ignore the fact that he's acted one way for the first several years of his career across two teams and have expectations that are completely opposite of all data that we have available. It doesn't matter that he had CP3 (arguably one of the greatest distributors of all time) for him in Phoenix and he failed. It doesn't matter that he has claimed basically each and every offseason that this is going to be the year that things are different yet he ends up with the same results.

I WANT Ayton to be good because my narrative is such that I WANT this to be a success. And that is all that matters; evidence be damned."

How exactly was his Phoenix stint a failure? - because they failed to win it all? You do realize that their inability to breakthrough wasn't all on Ayton right? He was drafted into a **** of an organization that only turned things around after Rubio's addition in the bubble season and then CP3 coming on board.

Friendly reminder he was still the starting center for a Phoenix team that a pretty successful 3 year run:
2021: won 51 games as the 2nd seed made a run to the Finals in 2021 (5th in ORTG & 9th DRTG)
2022: won a franchise record 64 games where they finished 1st (4th in ORTG, 3rd in DRTG)
2023: an overall weird campaign highlighted by the trade for KD to go 45-37 (14th in ORTG & 7th in DRTG)

It's not like he was featured offensively with both Book and CP3 commanding the offense and then lateron KD.

Bruh... what you said is acceptable if he was like a late 1st round pick or something.

The problem isn't that he wasn't featured offensively, he doesn't have the tool and never improved himself to be the guy.

1st OVERALL pick and the best he can come up with is his "dominayton" meme?

Give me a break.

[lonea]

...starting role/minutes with multiple player makers to spoon feed him looks for easy baskets.

As if that didn't happened in phx but his butter fingers couldn't handle the spoons

[The Servant]

The Lakers fans over/under on absolutely despising Ayton is officially set at 23.5 games.

I'm taking the under. Imagine guards blowing by Bron and Luka and taking rim runs at Soft-Ayton. He will be scape goated by the team, blamed by Bron, tasked with covering up a bunch of defensive holes.

He will be sulking in no time and the LA media and all the shows and Steven A will crap on him.

He will want to crawl into a hole and die imo.