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After playing his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers, it seems Deandre Ayton is keen to come back for one more season with the team. He is picking up his player option for the second year of his deal, so he has another opportunity to prove himself.
The 2025-26 season was a bit hit-or-miss for Ayton, as he showcased that he can be a good partner for Luka Doncic in the pick-and-roll. However, some red flags are hard to ignore.
Deandre Ayton wants to prove himself to the Lakers by picking up his player option
Ayton came into the league with massive expectations as the first overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. Considering all the elite talent that came from that class, Ayton's career has been quite disappointing so far.
He has shown that he is a talented center who can be an All-Star if he puts it all together. However, it seems that he is perfectly fine with playing a lesser role than expected. Now, he is scraping by with a deal with the Lakers.
MORE: Lakers fans want a former All-Defensive center to replace Deandre Ayton
If he does not impress, the Lakers could possibly trade him or just let him go when his contract ends in 2027. However, that should be a motivating factor for Ayton as the Lakers embark on their 2026-27 season.
Moving forward, Ayton needs to be more decisive and aggressive. He has all the talent in the world, but he just needs to be more locked in, so he can prove the doubters wrong.
He is not a bust per se, but it is a bit disappointing to see him getting lapped by a lot of star players from the 2018 class, including Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Brunson.
More NBA news:
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- Reports provide some context behind LeBron James likely leaving the LA Lakers
- The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking for a trade that can appease Luka Doncic
- The bad news surrounding Walker Kessler after a Luka Doncic warning
- Austin Reaves' payday is now the biggest for any undrafted player ever
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