The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their 2024-25 regular season with a solid 50-32 record and made the playoffs. But the good vibes didn’t last. In the first round, they were exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a quick 4-1 series loss that showed how weak they were at the center position.
Determined to shore up their interior presence, the front office wasted no time this offseason and signed 26-year-old center Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million deal after he cleared waivers and became a free agent.
However, not everyone in Lakers Land is convinced Ayton is the answer.
Jovan Buha Pointed Out Key Weakness of Deandre Ayton
On the latest episode of “Buha’s Block,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha broke down several red flags in Ayton’s game that could spell trouble in purple and gold.
“Looking at Ayton’s weaknesses, he hasn’t played 70 games in a season since his rookie season. So it’s been six straight years of missing at least 13 games per season. He’s only played 95 over the past two. He’s more of a finesse big who often avoids contact and physicality. He has a tendency to settle for jumpers instead of attacking the rim/paint.
“He’s never averaged more than three free-throw attempts per game, despite averaging 30+ minutes every season of his career. And this stat shocked me. He shot zero free throws last season on his 52 post-ups per Second Spectrum, which is just wild to think about,” said Buha during the podcast.
Buha pointed out a recurring issue in Ayton’s offensive approach: his tendency to settle for jumpers. While Ayton’s touch from outside the paint is respectable, this preference limits his physical dominance and efficiency. It makes him a less effective partner in a Luka Dončić-led offensive system that thrives on rim pressure and lob finishes.
Beyond scoring, Buha highlighted Ayton’s struggles in fast-paced or high-leverage situations.
“He can struggle with decision-making and processing. He’s had more turnovers than assists in each of his seven seasons. I think you want to limit his passing and his decision-making. You don’t want him to be making quick decisions on the move or in traffic… And you want to limit his processing and make him more of a scorer and more of a finisher.
“Passing is not a strength of his game. Then defensively, his motor, particularly on the defensive end, can be inconsistent. He can be undisciplined defensively, falling for shots and ball fakes, and then getting blown by on the perimeter or having to foul the ball handler because they get by him,” added Buha during the podcast.
These lapses could hinder the Lakers’ offensive rhythm, especially under head coach JJ Redick, who emphasizes sharp execution and discipline.
Defensively, Ayton’s negative defensive box plus-minus in four of seven seasons and lack of rim protection may expose the Lakers to interior vulnerabilities, especially against elite bigs like Rudy Gobert, who dominated them in last season’s playoffs.
This is what is frustrating about Deandre Ayton’s defense. These three plays show a clear lack of trying and bad decision making. Laziness should be completely intolerated from a number one pick. This HAS to get better. pic.twitter.com/9loUkwm54s
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) October 18, 2019
Still, not everyone in the organization is hitting the panic button.
Lakers GM Is Satisfied With the Addition of Ayton
A few weeks ago, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka revealed the team had been “super active” in their search for a reliable center. In a recent interview, he expressed his satisfaction with adding Ayton.
“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” said Pelinka per Lakers Nation.
Last season with Portland, Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. As the Lakers prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on whether Ayton can overcome these identified weaknesses and fulfill his potential as a championship-caliber center.
