If Deandre Ayton does not get it right in Los Angeles, his days of big contracts and franchise expectations are likely over. This is the season that will define how he is viewed around the league, either as a serious, dependable center with real value or as another “what if” in NBA history.
Deandre Ayton is officially out of excuses
The Los Angeles Lakers did not bring Ayton in just to patch a hole. They brought him in to be part of the solution. He is being given a real opportunity, a starting role, elite playmakers around him, and a spotlight few players ever get.