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If the Los Angeles Lakers don’t fulfill Luka Doncic’s ‘A-List center’ request, things could get ugly between the two parties fast.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers could take the first step in the process of bolstering their frontcourt by cutting ties with their 7-foot center, who endured what should be considered a nightmare season with Los Angeles in 2025-26.
“His (Doncic) feedback to the Lakers’ front office was ‘get me an A-List center, I need that to compete,” McMenamin said Thursday. “Luka’s camp was also told to ‘wait until the summer of 2026,’ then we’re gonna show you what we mean for the future, and your future, as the face of our franchise.”
“We don’t know if Deandre Ayton’s gonna opt in to his deal, and if he does, that means Rob Pelinka needs to find a trade partner for Ayton.”
Although Ayton opting out of his $8.1 million player option and entering free agency would be the best possible news the Lakers could receive regarding the Arizona product, McMenamin’s report indicates that the opposite scenario would be far from the end of the world.
Finding a team willing to acquire an erratic low-post weapon who struggles to play high-energy offensive and defensive basketball consistently won’t be a walk in the park, though.
It’s safe to assume JJ Redick tried his best to push all the right buttons with Ayton to help him maximize his potential.
Unfortunately, the former No. 1 overall pick was dead set on picking and choosing when he wanted to dominate on the interior with the Lakers in 2025-26. As a result, Ayton was largely ineffective when it mattered most (in the postseason), prompting many to call for significant change during the offseason.
The 27-year-old averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in his first season with Los Angeles, shooting 67.1% from the field in 72 contests. Perhaps the Lakers will receive a gift and identify the perfect trade suitor for the unreliable starting center.
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