Deandre Ayton Discussion: This Is A Platform I Can't Run From

Ayton is such a quandary.
Everyone is mentioning touches but he was getting the same type fo shots at the beginning of the year and he was also killing it then

I guess the big difference is teams aren't giving him the foul line pick and and pop shot that he was automatic from anymore? Defenses adjusted and then he started missing a bunch of layups when he looked like he wanted to be waived. Still feel like he might have been hurt but out of his own mouth he said he was upset with how he was being used??

This is frankly the season I was expecting from him thankfully the pouty part seems to be over and the Lakers have an above average NBA center on the cheap again

 

Yeah, I still have doubt but I tip my hat to him for his play during this stretch. If he keeps this up then we are in a great position heading to the playoffs.

 

Good ayton really elevates this team. The center combo and Smart are lot better in terms of role players than what this team had last year

 

those high screens where he just held his ground instead of trying to roll were great, as was the gortat screen, which can also yield offensive rebounds.

 

I'm taking him at his word from a month ago that playing "meaningful" basketball again is what matters to him most. Here we go and have been going against all the good teams leading into the playoffs that we've been beating during this 16-2 run. For the LA Lakers .... biggest basketball stage on the planet.

 

i'm hoping rob's pitch to some of our current players is bird rights and early bird rights.

like, if ayton opts in, he'll be eligible to sign a deal starting at 14-15 million per with us the following year using early bird rights. now, if he really balled out in the playoffs, maybe someone ponies up midlevel cash this year, but i'm not sure that happens.

smart's in the same boat, imo. if he trusts us and is patient, he stands to make more by opting in or opting out and taking the non-bird raise like hayes did last year.

btw, the case is even more stark with rui and lebron, for whom we have full bird rights. either one could take a vet min next year and get a giant pay increase the following year.

to me, this is where relationships plus the promise of walter money could/should help us.

 

Well DA is now the second option? Can we run more plays for him and develop the two man LeBron and Ayton game?

Surround them with Kennard, Rui and Jake for kick out 3’s.

Get the bench to just defend then run. Bronny, Bufkin, Vando, Adou & Hayes.

 

Bufkin not available with the 2-way. They'd have to waive someone. Waive Bronny and LeBron will check out too, but they're probably not willing anyway with the progress shown and his age. Maxi, with size depth needed, such as it is .... but also thought of as The Chosen One in the organization ..... no chance. Nor Dalton, would be smart at this point as Bufkin isn't going to raise the bar virtually any.

 

Im pretty sure Bufkin is signed to a two year deal as our 15th man?

Our two ways are Manon, Timme and Nick Smith Jr.

 

Oh that’s right … big brain fart.

 

Man, he's such a frustrating player, his good center to unplayable variance swings way to much for us to be able to rely on him as a contender. He can either be a top 12 center or the 85th best center. Every player is going to have tough matchups but there has to be some level of dependable consistency.

Did we not label Space Jam sippy cup? Did we not wear the lion shirts? What was it?

8 rebounds total in the past 3 games is not going to work. He was great in March when everything was going great. But this is when I want to see him rise to the occasion while we're down our #1 & #2 option. Talent wise, he's our second best offensive player. To only walk away with 3 points and 1 bucket last night... my God! I wouldn't be surprised if he has the worst splits of any starter against OKC this season.

I understand he's not going to be spoon fed the ball like he was when he had 3 good-to- great passers on the court with him but Bron is still out there (excluding last night) and he's got our new lead guard Luke Doncic. If he was smart, he'd utilize this time and the available touches to make sure he gets paid this summer. But that takes drive and a motor, something he lacks in both departments.

He went from Dominayton to Kwamayton



I think there needs to be an upgrade at the position this summer. I'm just not sure we'll have the assets to make that happen because we have bigger priorities.

 

I wanted to like him, i really did, hope he's gone now. Can't stand players with ZERO heart and passion.

 

JJ got pushback for calling him out but I can't even imagine being an NBA coach and watching your starting center not being able to catch the ball.

 

As a former #1 pick, if you cannot catch the ball your coach, your teammates, your friends, family, mascot, and mailman should all call you out for have butter fingers.