The Los Angeles Lakers tried to address their center problem in NBA free agency this week by signing former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal worth over $16 million. Ayton has largely underwhelmed as a professional, but has shown enough flashes of great two-way play that the Lakers wanted to bet on him as they enter a pivotal season with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and new ownership at the helm.
For Doncic, a center like Ayton who can set a hard pick and catch lobs in the paint makes for a perfect on-court partner. But that’s not the only reason he’s excited to suit up alongside Ayton.
