LOS ANGELES, CA — In addressing a glaring hole in the middle, the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to terms with former Portland Trail Blazers center DeAndre Ayton. Can he salvage a once promising career in Tinseltown?
Ayton, selected No.1 overall out of Arizona in the 2018 NBA Draft by the local Phoenix Suns, agreed to a two-year $16.6 million contract with a player who extension.
In what can best be described as a star-crossed and potentially wasted career for someone who is so gifted physically at 7’0 and 253 pounds, Ayton has been considered somewhat of a disappointment bordering on bust.
After leading the Suns to their first NBA Finals since 1993, where they would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, Ayton would be dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, as part of a three-team dealt following a series of uninspired play, injuries and a 25-game suspension due to a banned substance.
In Portland, Ayton would continue to show lackluster play and bad habits, such as showing up late to practice, team flights and rehab assignments, per the Athletic’s Jason Quick, which led to Portland buying Ayton out of his deal, and signing with the rival Lakers.
In Los Angeles, Ayton has one last shot at saving his career, in getting okay alongside both Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
On top of that, Ayton gets a chance to get developed and coached up by an organization that has a storied history of developing big men starting with George Milan to Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Paul Gasol and most recently Dwight Howard.
If Ayton can’t save his career, or let the Lakers fix what is wrong with him in motivating the Bahamian-born star at this point, this could turn into a sunk cost with no reward.
Not many players get the opportunity to play in Los Angeles, let alone for the leagues premier and most storied glamour franchise, so if the Lakers 17 NBA banners, history of big men and playing with two of the top players in the world is not enough, nothing else will.