SoccerFeature
Pep drops hint about his future after 20th major Man City trophy
Pep Guardiola hints at a bright future for Man City after winning his 20th trophy with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
Sky Sports1 min read
Sports
NBA executive calls Deandre Ayton's season with Lakers a 'disaster'
TL;DR
Deandre Ayton's season with the Lakers has been labeled a 'disaster' by an NBA executive. Despite some promising moments, his overall performance has led to speculation about his future with the team.
Key points
- Deandre Ayton's season with the Lakers was called a 'disaster'
- He has a two-year, $16.6 million contract with an $8.1 million player option
- The Lakers are looking to replace Ayton with a better fit for their play style
- Ayton showed promise during the playoffs but was often seen as disappointing
Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
When the Los Angeles Lakers signed center Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract after the Portland Trail Blazers had bought out his previous contract last summer, some fans envisioned him blossoming and reaching new heights. While he had been solid and at times promising in his prior seven seasons, he had displayed unprofessional behavior and was frustrating to deal with at times.
There were definitely times this season when Ayton was an impactful player for the Lakers, particularly during the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets. In that series, he worked hard on the boards and played physically, intense positional defense on All-Star center Alperen Sengun. But all too often, he was seen as a disappointment, as he wasn't aggressive enough and seemed mentally checked out to plenty of fans.
Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports wrote in a recent article that Ayton may lose his job soon, one way or another (h/t Lakers Daily).
"Center Deandre Ayton has an $8.1 million player option for next season, and the team is pretty eager to move on from him and get a big man who can better fit the style of play of star Luka Doncic," Deveney wrote. "Ayton struggled mightily at times in the playoffs, and though he had bright spots through the season, he is not considered a candidate to come backâeven if he opts in, look for him to be traded or at least replaced in the starting lineup."
Q&A
What did the NBA executive say about Deandre Ayton's performance with the Lakers?
The NBA executive described Deandre Ayton's season with the Lakers as a 'disaster,' highlighting his inconsistent performance.
What is Deandre Ayton's contract situation with the Lakers?
Deandre Ayton has a two-year, $16.6 million contract with the Lakers, including an $8.1 million player option for the next season.
Why might the Lakers want to move on from Deandre Ayton?
The Lakers are eager to find a big man who better fits their style of play, as Ayton has struggled at times and is not seen as a candidate to return.
What were Deandre Ayton's notable performances during the season?
Ayton had impactful moments, particularly in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, where he played strong defense and rebounded well.
