Deandre Ayton just sparked drama in Los Angeles with a bold statement in front of the media that has since gone viral on the internet. However, the former No. 1 pick’s feelings just might tell a story on why he’ll dictate how the Lakers will fare in the NBA playoffs this year.
Deandre Ayton Not Thrilled About Role with Lakers
After a devastating loss against the Orlando Magic on Thursday, Ayton gave the media what they wanted by expressing what he really feels about his role with the Lakers. And he’s obviously not happy about it.
Against the Magic, Ayton was actually playing like a reliable big man by putting up 21 points and 13 rebounds and missing only 3 of his 11 attempts from the floor. It was his first 20-10 double-double in almost a month and his best game since January 31.
However, right after giving props to some of his teammates, Ayton took a 180-degree turn and told reporters that he feels like the Lakers are trying to turn him into Clint Capela and muttered the words “I’m not no Clint Capela!” in the locker room. Everyone took it to mean Ayton wants no part of being a center like the Swiss big man, a hard-nosed lob threat who was a valuable part of the James Harden-led Houston Rockets from 2015 to 2020 that went to two Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers’ acquisition of Deandre Ayton was their biggest move last summer, in hopes of providing an answer for their lack of size, with the 7-footer now wearing the purple and gold. At first, the former University of Arizona standout was doing well in Los Angeles, but as time passed, his level of play gradually diminished.
Despite the Lakers’ continuous attempts to fuel Ayton’s ego by giving him a shirt that depicts his face with a lion and his own “special” drink, a.k.a. DA’s Crunk Juice, it seems that it’s not enough to persuade the former first overall pick to step into a different role for the team. Whimsical? Maybe. Necessary? Perhaps.
After making such a bold remark, Ayton’s performance immediately took a dip, as he logged only 2 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. In that game, he was statistically the worst player on the floor with a -24 box plus/minus.
The Lakers Need Deandre Ayton at His Best
The Lakers are just above mediocrity in the West. A few more losses and they’re quickly going to drop from the sixth to the eighth seed—a tough position to be in before the playoffs.
Ayton in his best form is what the Lakers desperately need, especially this late in the season. He’s got the size, athleticism, and the touch to provide what the team requires to contend in the West. He can still do his favorite post-up move every now and then, but when playing with ball-dominant players like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, he’s expected to be more of a rim runner and lob threat to receive a lot of passes in the pick-and-roll. That’s the role Dallas Mavericks big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II excelled in when they played with Doncic.
Unfortunately, Deandre Ayton seems unwilling to accept that kind of role in the bright lights of LA.
Ironically, the Clint Capela prototype is what the Lakers need right now—a bruiser, tenacious rebounder, and lob-catching scorer willing to do the dirty work down low. Capela thrived in Harden’s pick-and-roll system, and he would too with Doncic and James, two of the best floor generals in NBA history.
In other words, the Lakers’ success this year would somehow rely on Deandre Ayton’s willingness to go the extra mile without overstepping his teammates. Right now, he’s getting paid $8 million a year, which is kind of a steal for the Lakers at first. But now, it looks like he’s overpaid unless he’s willing to accept that he can be a fine fourth option behind Doncic, James, and Reaves. Perhaps being a Clint Capela in Los Angeles doesn’t sound so bad at all.
