Mon Oct 27 03:40:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Ayton’s Lakers Tenure Off to a Rocky Start, Doubts Arise About Long-Term Fit
Los Angeles, CA – Deandre Ayton’s arrival in Los Angeles was met with cautious optimism, but after just two games, doubts are already surfacing about his long-term fit with the Lakers. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports the Lakers may be looking for their next center already.
Ayton’s debut performance of 10 points and 6 rebounds has done little to quell concerns. Fischer noted that Ayton may not be capable of upper-echelon production anymore.
While the Lakers were desperate for a center and Ayton’s contract is reasonable, Fischer suggests around the league Ayton isn’t the ideal partner for Luka Doncic. Blake Griffin has even observed Ayton’s lack of on-court awareness, saying he “is always in the wrong place.”
The Lakers, set to have cap space in the near future, are already being targeted by agents and rival teams as being on the hunt for their “center of the future”.
The Lakers will need to make a decision on Ayton’s future.
First Piper 