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NBA Legend Paul Pierce Makes Lakers Prediction After Deandre Ayton Addition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 8:27 PM ET

After a 50‑32 regular season that ended in a first‑round playoff exit, the Los Angeles Lakers swung a notable addition to their frontcourt by signing former All-Rookie center Deandre Ayton.

On Wednesday, however, NBA legend Paul Pierce noted that despite all of the hype, the ceiling for the Lakers might not be as high as people think.

"He definitely fills a need for the Lakers. But I'm not sure if he's the answer in winning a championship," Pierce said.

"I mean, if you had told me that they were getting the Joker or Antetokounmpo, then I would have been like, 'Oh, they should be the favorites.' But since they're getting a guy who's still trying to find his way in the NBA, he's been on multiple teams, this being his third team in, I believe, six years, being the number one pick and not really yet finding a home. I'm not sure how much he pushes the needle.

"If they make it to the second round with the roster as constructed. That's a win-win," Pierce continued.

"I'm not sure if he's the answer in winning a championship."

Paul Pierce on the Lakers adding Deandre Ayton ️

(via @SpeakOnFS1)pic.twitter.com/iCZNwgb0V9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 9, 2025

Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, arrives with a resume that includes an All‑Rookie First Team nod (2019), a trip to the 2021 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns and career averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks across 398 games.

The 7‑footer inked a two‑year deal worth $16.6 million with the Lakers on Sunday, including a player option for 2026‑27, following a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers.

With Ayton in the middle, they project a deeper frontline, yet Pierce’s assessment emphasizes a tempered outlook for L.A.’s title hopes.

While Ayton brings the intangibles of shot‑blocking and lob‑finishing, the Lakers must still address athleticism on the wings and add reliable depth.

Atop a roster led by a 40‑year‑old future Hall‑of‑Famer in LeBron James and a perennial All‑Star in Luka Doncic, the addition of Ayton is a step—but not a giant leap—toward genuine championship contention in Pierce's eyes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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