Deandre Ayton arranging a deal to getting bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers and winding up on the Los Angeles Lakers was undoubtedly one of the offseason’s biggest twists. Ayton could be the center that the Lakers need to achieve their goals this upcoming season.
While Ayton hasn’t had the best numbers over the last three years, the Lakers saw him as a low-risk, high-reward situation. FOX Sports gambling analyst and commentator Jason McIntyre believes this could work out so well for the Lakers because of how good he considers Ayton to be.
Why Does Jason McIntyre Think Deandre Ayton Belongs with Jokić and Giannis?
“The Herd with Colin Cowherd” account on X shared a video of McIntyre explaining why he thinks Ayton is on the same level as two of the NBA’s best players.
“Let’s just say Deandre Ayton, through his first even seasons, is kind of, sort of a top-eight center in the league?” McIntyre said. “I mean, listen, look at these stats right here. 15 (points; Ayton averages 16.4 points per game in his career) and 10 (rebounds; Ayton averages 10.6 rebounds per game in his career) and 50% shooting (Ayton actually averages 59% shooting) in the last seven seasons.
“Jokić is an MVP, Giannis is an MVP, (Anthony Davis)’s All-NBA, Joel Embiid has an MVP. These are all great players. Deandre Ayton’s in that class with them. He just obviously was in Portland, so nobody paid attention.”
Is Deandre Ayton on the same level as Jokic and Giannis? @jasonrmcintyre pic.twitter.com/VOKpvc472I
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 10, 2025
Wow. That’s certainly a lofty comparison considering Ayton has never made an All-Star or All-NBA team throughout his career. He certainly got paid like a star by the Phoenix Suns, as he was once upon a time one of their most important players during their run to the NBA Finals in 2021.
Does Ayton’s Track Record Support This Bold Claim?
However, Ayton’s accomplishments compared to some of the players McIntyre listed fall so far short that he shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as them. If this were true, then the Suns never would have traded him to begin with since their problems for the last two years stemmed from their lack of a dependable center.
If this were true, then Ayton would have signed more than a two-year, $16.6 million contract that pays him $8 million this coming season. Maybe he didn’t want to be in Portland, and that’s entirely possible, but if teams bought this narrative, then the Trail Blazers would have never had to buy him out because he would have had a trade market.
Ayton may have had the best season in years with the Lakers, but even so, when he was playing his best basketball, he was still never in the same conversation among the best big men in the league.
That’s not to say that Ayton stinks because he doesn’t when he’s got his head on straight. But if anyone goes into next season believing he’s gunning for All-NBA next season, they will be in for a surprise.
