Even the most optimistic people wouldn’t have predicted how well Deandre Ayton would fit with the Lakers.
Ayton had 17 points on 8-9 shooting along with eight rebounds in the win. After the game, head coach JJ Redick praised Ayton not only for his play but also for his awareness of what is required of him for this team to maximize its potential.
“I had a great conversation with [Ayton] this morning,” Redick said. “It was essentially [that] he’s doing a great job of understanding how the offense is being run and who the offense is being run through and then playing off of that, which we saw tonight. But the other point is his ability to punish smaller defenders. It’s something as a team, it’s not on him, it’s something as a team we’ve got to get better at.
“There was a play in the first half where he got an early seal against Cooper Flagg. It was super physical and got two points and then he had the one against the zone late against PJ Washington. That’s a dynamic that we didn’t have at the end of last season. So his importance in understanding that and for our guys understanding that…using his size and his nimbleness and his strength and all the stuff that makes him who he is, using that against switching defenses is going to be really important.”
Ayton has been a fantastic offensive player for the Lakers. His ability in the short roll, high field goal percentage, and willingness even when he doesn’t get the ball to still help the team gives the Lakers optionality at the five they just haven’t had since the departure of Anthony Davis.
He’s written in ink as a starter, and even on his first game back from a knee contusion, he was able to be impactful and effective.
At this point, all Ayton has to do is stay at this level of production. His chemistry with the guys and his attitude have been incredible. He’s scoring well and he’s the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 8.9 boards per game.
With Ayton being receptive to Redick’s guidance and having the talent to execute his coach’s vision, the Ayton signing is looking like the best decision the Lakers’ front office made this summer.
