It’s the final weekend before the NBA regular season begins, which means you’re coming here for your fantasy basketball drafts.
Should you draft Deandre Ayton this season? Here’s the latest outlook, projections, and rankings for the Los Angeles Lakers Center.
Should You Draft Deandre Ayton in Fantasy Basketball?
After agreeing to a contract buyout with Portland and signing with the Lakers over the summer, Deandre Ayton appears poised to contribute to a winning team for the first time since 2023. While the big man’s effort, particularly on defense, has frequently been called into question, he remains a nightly double-double threat and efficient finisher inside and in the midrange.
Despite battling injury troubles, Ayton has averaged a double-double in every season since being drafted No. 1 in the 2018 NBA Draft. That shouldn’t change in LA, with the aspiring Western Conference contender lacking another high-profile center.
Ayton should be locked into a starting role and will likely benefit from the playmaking of Lakers superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James. This sets him up for a prime opportunity to rebound from his uninspiring two-year Trail Blazers stint, which culminated in averages of 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game on 56.6% shooting last season.
Durability, however, remains a key concern, as the 7-footer has reached 70 games only once across seven campaigns and has failed to top 40 appearances in each of his last two seasons. Between this and his modest defensive impact and minimal 3-point production, Ayton projects to be a mid-round fantasy option worth drafting in Rounds 6 to 7 in standard leagues.
Looking for more fantasy basketball outlooks? Head over to our NBA landing page for analysis on 200 players.
What Are Ayton’s Fantasy Basketball Projections This Season?
Based on our proprietary metrics here at PFSN, we project Ayton to score 2,429.8 fantasy points this season, with him averaging 14.6 points per game.
This includes 6.8 field goals per game, 0.1 three-pointers per game, 1.0 free throws per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Where Does Deandre Ayton Rank in the Upcoming Fantasy Basketball Season?
Ayton is ranked 60th overall and 13th at his position. The five players ranked ahead of him overall include Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, RJ Barrett, Kristaps Porzingis, and Cooper Flagg.
The five players ranked behind him overall include LaMelo Ball, Jordan Poole, Ja Morant, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kawhi Leonard.
The five players ranked ahead of him at his position include Jalen Duren, Rudy Gobert, Ivica Zubac, Allen, and Porzingis.
The five players ranked behind him at his position include Myles Turner, Onyeka Okongwu, Donovan Clingan, Mark Williams, and Nicolas Claxton.
