There is still a level of caution revolving around Deandre Ayton that is hard to shake. However, in the very early parts of the Ayton experience for the Los Angeles Lakers, it is likewise difficult to shake the present feeling that Rob Pelinka and the front office made the biggest steal of the summer.
NBA general managers got together recently to vote on a long list of topics for their annual survey ahead of the new season. One of the subjects up for discussion was the most underrated player acquisition.
Desmond Bane won the category with 17 percent of the vote, trailed closely by Cam Johnson with 13 percent, and Kristaps Porzingis with 10 percent. Ayton was relegated to underrated among even that group.
Some of the leading names there do not feel even have the true feel of fitting the description, given their notoriety. It is worth mentioning that the Lakers center did receive at least one vote. This upcoming season should give that one person an opportunity to feel like a genius.
Deandre Ayton quickly proving he’s exactly what the Lakers need
Ayton’s preseason statistics do not tell the whole story, but they are noteworthy for a few key points. The new starting center has averaged 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game. The Lakers big man has connected on 48.1 percent of his shots thus far too.
The scoring leaves a little bit to be desired, but in all fairness, Ayton has yet to enjoy the comforts of having both Luka Doncic and LeBron James feeding him the ball. Seeing the initial returns on the partnership with Doncic already sparked promise.
Ayton’s ability to create space and advantageous opportunities through his screening should serve the pick-and-roll game well, especially when his superstar point guard is the one running those sets with him. There should be little doubt his scoring numbers will go up.
The biggest point of encouragement that has existed with Ayton comes on the other end of the court. The defense has looked better than advertised.
JJ Redick has adapted his coverages to include more drop on that end, allowing Ayton to be a disruptive presence defensively. The Lakers starter has admitted to suffering from inconsistency in the past. The active effort to change that has been crystal clear.
The more Ayton continues to look like someone who can reliably fix the concerns of last season, the more his $8.1 million contract will stick out for its value. Not only will that be a bargain, it could be highway robbery by year’s end.
