Deandre Ayton's arrival in Los Angeles helped grow a cautious optimism about the type of defensive presence that could be brought down low with his impact. The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled in several regards during the preseason thus far. That is not one of those areas.
JJ Redick shifted his defensive schemes to include more drop coverage in the tune-up games before the 2025-26 regular season gets underway. That adjustment has allowed Ayton an opportunity to be a much-needed game-changer on that end.
Ayton, himself, was open and honest about the fact that he had his fair share of defensive struggles in the past.