Luka Doncic helped Jaxson Hayes look like a competent starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25. Imagine what Doncic will do for Deandre Ayton in the upcoming season.
Ayton arrived in Los Angeles with plenty of baggage. The former Portland Trail Blazers center also brought with him heaps of talent. The gamble here rests on the latter outweighing the former.
To the credit of Ayton, there has been humility since joining the Lakers following his buyout from the Blazers. The new starting center knows this is a year to prove to himself against all of his critics and naysayers.