The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason signing of Deandre Ayton was viewed as one that could ultimately decide the team’s ceiling. The former No. 1 overall pick is extremely talented and could fit in perfectly next to the Lakers’ trio of playmakers in Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
However, Ayton has garnered a reputation as a player who is inconsistent with his effort and dedication on the court and that has mostly played out this season. The big man has had some outstanding nights where he is crashing the glass, setting screens, finishing hard in the paint and altering shots on defense. But those are often followed by listless nights where he doesn’t seem engaged at all.
While Tuesday night’s loss to the Orlando Magic was Ayton’s best game in weeks, the center apparently still has some issues with his role on the team. After he spoke with reporters following his 21-point, 13-rebound outing, Ayton was heard yelling that the Lakers are trying to get him to play like Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, which he is not a fan of, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:
When he was finished speaking to the group, Ayton made his way back toward the showers and said what he really felt — loud enough for anyone still in the locker room to hear.
“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, referring to the Houston Rockets’ now backup center, who a decade ago made his impact as a lob-catching, rim-running big on a team that made it to two conference finals.
“I’m not no Clint Capela!”
While Capela is now a seldom-used backup, at his peak he was the perfect pick-and-roll partner for James Harden and Trae Young. He rarely created his own shots, but was the ideal rim-running center who thrived off lobs and dunks, crashed the offensive glass, set excellent screens and averaged nearly two blocks per game on defense as well.
Ayton believes he is more than that, and in fairness, he is undoubtedly more skilled offensively than Capela ever was. But even Ayton himself acknowledged before the season that he is not here for numbers and the Lakers have Doncic, James and Reaves to carry the offense, so his focus is elsewhere.
Perhaps the frustrations of an up-and-down season both individually and the Lakers as a whole are getting to Ayton and his teammates and coaches have both acknowledged that they need to do more to keep him involved offensively. He may not be Capela, but if he can bring that level of effort and energy every night, combined with his skill, he would help take this Lakers team to another level.
Deandre Ayton optimistic Lakers can turn things around
The Lakers are coming off a disappointing homestand in which they went just 4-4 and while Ayton acknowledged that the team isn’t happy with how things went, he still expressed belief that they can turn things around this season.
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