Deandre Ayton could become a steal for the Lakers  

Some have questioned why the Lakers would go into business with a player two prior franchises gave up on instead of signing one of the other available centers on the market. But the easy answer is Ayton's talent and his production make him worth the gamble.

In 40 games with Portland this past season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists and shot 56.6% from the field. And for his career, he holds averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 boards at 59% through seven NBA seasons. 

Ayton has also been a key piece of a Phoenix Suns team that reached the NBA Finals in 2021. A former No. 1 overall pick, Ayton is only 26 and has yet to actually enter his prime.  

However, Ayton's career has been far from perfect to this point. Almost immediately after their Finals run, the Suns found themselves in a back and forth with Ayton over his desire for a max deal at a time where there were already questions about his work ethic and motivation. 

Those concerns then lingered to his brief tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers, who initially traded for him based on the value of his talent and skill level. 

But as the story often goes in sports, there will always be at least one team willing to give a chance to a productive and talented player. That's the story of Ayton's career so far, but he now has a real chance to rewrite the narrative around him with the Lakers. 

Paired with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Ayton has found himself in a perfect situation from multiple perspectives. As one of the most effective pick and roll players when on the court, Ayton has everything Doncic covets in a lob threat. 

"It feels like a video game, like somebody set it up," Ayton said about teaming up with Doncic during his introductory news conference.

"Luka is a once in a generation player. Hearing the shape he's in, he's super ripped. I'm finally glad to be on this side while he's doing all of that. I'm truly excited."

Ayton's skillset is exactly what works best around Doncic. In fact, Doncic has the second most assists off lobs since his rookie year.  

In James, Ayton will find a role model to follow, both on and off the court. James can help guide Ayton and make sure he stays focused. 

And basketball wise, James has 264 assists off lobs from the same timespan in his own right. 

The set up of the deal even adds an extra incentive for Ayton to be at his best. If he's headache free and plays well, he may force the Lakers to increase his salary or lose him to a higher bidder. 

Only time will tell if Ayton's name gets added to the long list of all-time great Lakers centers. At the very least, L.A. thinks he's worth giving a shot to.