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The Los Angeles Lakers started the season as strong as anyone in the NBA. However, a season is much longer than a month, and the Lakers have been inconsistent, depending on the day. Since the summer, LeBron James has made it clear that he wants to be part of a real contender with the Lakers.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship," James’ agent Rich Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
The Lakers made a move they hoped would help in signing Deandre Ayton. However, there were several warnings that it might not work out.
“The word around the league is not good about Deandre Ayton... right now he's been labeled as a diva, as a cancer in the locker room... he has to change a lot about himself or he will find his career being shortened,” ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said.
Fast forward to now, and the Lakers can’t get any consistency out of him. LA values him as a lob threat, but his effort isn’t always there. Because of this, there is growing belief that he will be traded this summer.
“The 27-year-old has an $8.1 million player option he will probably pick up this summer, and when he does, Los Angeles needs to put an end to the Ayton experiment and try to find a trade,” Lake Show Life’s Jordanna Clark wrote.
The Lakers know Ayton has the potential to be great, but he remains stuck in the same mindset that originally caused problems in Phoenix. For whatever reason, Ayton hasn’t figured out how to fix his mentality.
If he can’t do it alongside players like Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James, there’s little reason for any team to believe they could change his mindset. Trading Ayton this summer would likely be the right move for the Lakers.
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