As the Los Angeles Lakers scramble to patch their long-standing hole at center, all eyes have turned to free agent Deandre Ayton. Following his surprise buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers, the Lakers have emerged as frontrunners to land the former No. 1 overall pick—a move that, on paper, fits their desperate need for size. But beneath the surface, red flags remain.
Lakers All-In on Deandre Ayton, But Discipline Concerns Raise Fit Questions with Luka Doncic
Ayton’s release wasn’t a basketball decision alone. According to The Athletic’s Jason Quick, Portland parted ways with the 26-year-old not due to declining performance, but because of persistent discipline issues. “The Blazers could live with Ayton missing shots or his man scoring,” Quick wrote. “But they couldn’t live with his bad ways… tardiness to team flights and practices, skipping rehab appointments, and tantrums in the locker room.”

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Still, the Lakers are intrigued. Ayton averaged a respectable 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, and his production could rise playing next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic—two players who command defensive attention and could create easy looks for the big man. As NBA insider Chris Haynes reported, “There’s a strong possibility” Ayton signs with L.A., and with Brook Lopez and Clint Capela off the board, that possibility looks more like inevitability.
However, concerns about fit alongside Doncic should not be ignored. Doncic’s demanding style requires disciplined teammates who play within a structured system. Ayton’s reported history of disengagement and emotional volatility raises legitimate questions about how he would handle Doncic’s intense leadership and the high-pressure environment in Los Angeles.
With Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len expected to depart, and no other top centers left on the market, Ayton may be the Lakers’ best option—but not necessarily the safest. The talent is there. Whether the discipline—and the fit—follows remains to be seen.