JJ Redick’s Comments About Deandre Ayton Resurface After Lakers Report

Deandre Ayton was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the start of free agency and, at just 26 years old, has quickly become one of the more intriguing names on the open market. With other options dwindling, it appears the Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to zero in on the former No. 1 overall pick.

On Tuesday, past comments from new Lakers head coach JJ Redick resurfaced — remarks he made during his time as an analyst on ESPN’s First Take, where he debated Patrick Beverley and offered strong praise for Ayton.

“Ayton’s fantastic,” Redick said back in 2022. “He’s fantastic at punishing mismatches. In the two-man pick-and-roll with him and [Chris Paul], they’re the No. 1 offensive duo among high-volume pick-and-roll players… so he is fantastic.”

This debate originally occurred during the period when Deandre Ayton was seeking a long-term extension following the Phoenix Suns’ Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs.

Eventually, the Suns dealt Ayton as part of a three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. In return, Phoenix received Jusuf Nurkić, Grayson Allen, and additional compensation.

However, Ayton’s stint in Portland didn’t go as planned. With the Trail Blazers already overloaded at the center position, the team ultimately chose to cut ties — opting to invest in their younger front court talent. That decision has now opened the door for the Lakers to potentially land their center of the future in the coming days.