Lakers urged to cut ties with $16 million disappointment after one season

TL;DR

The Los Angeles Lakers are advised to part ways with a $16 million player after just one season, despite reaching the Western Conference semifinals. Concerns about the center position persist, with Deandre Ayton's future uncertain.

Key points

Lakers reached Western Conference semifinals
Concerns about center position persist
Advice to cut ties with $16 million player
Deandre Ayton has $8.1 million player option
Uncertainty about Ayton's free agency value

Los Angeles LakersHouston RocketsDeandre Ayton

Lakers urged to cut ties with $16 million disappointment after one season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially reached the Western Conference semifinals after nearly squandering a colossal 3-0 first-round series lead to the Houston Rockets.

However, questions still remain regarding their stability at the center position. Although the Lakers’ 27-year-old disappointment has a chance to play his way into good graces with the franchise, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz believes that the franchise should consider parting ways with him after just one season.

“Deandre Ayton holds a $8.1 million player option for next season,” Swartz wrote Wednesday. “Even though he's spent the past four years on a max contract, are we sure he'd make more than this as a free agent? If Ayton picks the option up, the Lakers should have already checked on his value around the league.”

After finishing the 2024-25 season without a starting-caliber center following their blockbuster Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade, the Lakers made an effort to bolster their frontcourt depth by signing Ayton to a two-year, $16 million deal in free agency.

Q&A

Why should the Lakers cut ties with their $16 million player?

The Lakers are urged to consider parting ways due to ongoing concerns about stability at the center position after just one disappointing season.

What is Deandre Ayton's contract situation with the Lakers?

Deandre Ayton holds an $8.1 million player option for next season, and there are questions about whether he would earn more as a free agent.

What are the Lakers' chances in the playoffs after reaching the semifinals?

The Lakers have advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, but their playoff stability may be impacted by their center position and player performance.