LA Lakers replace Deandre Ayton with top pick in new ESPN NBA mock draft

In ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft, the Los Angeles Lakers find an interesting replacement for Deandre Ayton in the June event.

This has been a very good season for the Lakers. Despite some early bumps in the road and major questions about the team’s chemistry and dedication to defense, LA came into the season in a much stronger position. However, injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves seemed to end any hopes of a deep run in this year’s playoffs. Or so we thought.

Thanks to the brilliance of LeBron James and some shockingly good play from Luke Kennard, the Lakers actually lead 3-1 in their opening-round series against the Houston Rockets entering Game 5 on Wednesday at home. Still, while the chance to go far in the postseason is back, the front office needs to keep an eye on the impending offseason.

In a few months, the team will have to find out if LeBron James, Austin Reaves, or Deandre Ayton are in their plans after this season. It seems like they want James back – at the right price – and will certainly give Reeves a huge raise in free agency. It seems Ayton is a strange man. Although he has been solid for them in 2025-26, he hasn’t made a case that he will be difficult to replace.

Los Angeles Lakers predicted to draft UNC’s Henry Vissar

lakers
Bob Donnan-Images

Perhaps that’s why the Lakers have selected Ayton’s replacement with their first-round selection in ESPN’s new NBA mock draft.

Jeremy Wu writes, “The Lakers have some roster uncertainty next season with James and potentially Reeves (player option) entering free agency. The most glaring need is at center, where they stand to move on from the stellar Deandre Ayton.” “Henry Vissar will elevate their skill level and add a floor-spacing element that the roster is lacking.”

The North Carolina center is 7-feet and 225 pounds. The junior had a breakout year for the Tar Heels after transferring from Arizona. Posting 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and shooting 42% from three.

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After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

#Lakers #replace #Deandre #Ayton #top #pick #ESPN #NBA #mock #draft

Ayton delivering dagger to Capela’s Rockets after play is poetic

The Lakers and Rockets met for the first time since DeAndre Ayton and Clint Capela took aim at each other in the media and social media. The Lakers won 100–92, and neither player had a major impact on the game or the season. Still, Ayton got the last laugh with the win, and because he outshined Capela when he was on the floor, this rivalry doesn’t look to be slowing down either.

The reason Ayton had the last laugh on Capela was that he finished with a +/- of 11, other than the fact that the Lakers won. He was quoted as saying, “I’m no Clint Capela!” The context was that Ayton did not want to catch lobs on offense and instead wanted to do more of that.

The quote went viral when Ayton criticized Capela and his skills and Capela clapped back. He said, “You got 2 of the best floor generals in the game, my dog ​​Lockin.” Then he added two crying and laughing emojis.

It’s worth noting that Ayton may have a point about his offensive skill set being wasted in the Clint Capela role, but Capela, in his prime, was far superior to Ayton at rebounding and defense. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers spent seven years figuring out how to maximize that skill set in a way that really helped their championship chances.

Ayton’s career has been defined by talent that was perhaps not wasted, but certainly unevenly applied. This isn’t exactly what you want from a player who the Suns selected first overall ahead of players like Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.

The Suns got the most out of Ayton and he helped them reach the NBA Finals. This also led to him earning a max contract, but questions about his effort level have persisted and not gone away throughout his tenure with three different teams. Having a defined role like Capela could do him some good in the long term.


#Ayton #delivering #dagger #Capelas #Rockets #play #poetic

Can the Arizona star replace Ayton as the long-term center?

Much has been said about the beginning of Deandre Ayton’s life with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brought in to stabilize center after LA struggled at the position for several seasons, Ayton has had a great season so far, at least on paper.

However, regular misses and a reluctance to adopt a defensive role are also evident, meaning a more long-term solution may still be on the cards. This brings us to the 2026 NBA Draft and the Lakers’ No. 21 pick, which ESPN believes the franchise could use to draft Arizona Wildcats center Motijes Krivas.

Krivas is expected to be one of the many centers to be selected in the 20-40 range in the upcoming draft. However, he has established himself as a regular contributor to his team, averaging 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and assists in 31 games.

Standing at 7-foot-2, Krivas is an imposing interior presence and has exactly the type of defensive mentality the Lakers need. Averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, the Wildcats star is fundamentally sound on both ends of the court.

He is a highly efficient shooter who converts nearly 80% of his free throws and has all the ingredients to immediately become a role player on a contending team. Of course, that doesn’t mean L.A. can insert him straight into the starting lineup.

The Lakers could consider adding him as a rotational option alongside Ayton and Jackson Hayes, and he would have a long-term prospect that could even exceed expectations. As far as Ayton is concerned, the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves also provided evidence of motor fluctuations.

Ayton dominated early on, attacking Rudy Gobert in the paint and recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds by halftime. Yet the second part tells a completely different story. Ayton added only 2 points and one steal over the final two quarters, once again showing the kind of inconsistency that has come to define his tenure with the Lakers.


#Arizona #star #replace #Ayton #longterm #center

JJ Redick ‘relentlessly’ challenges Deandre Ayton amid growing criticism

LOS ANGELES – One of the prevailing stories around the Los Angeles Lakers this season has been the need for more consistent play from Deandre Ayton. With the regular season approaching, the Ayton experiment has had mixed results for the Lakers.

There have been games when Ayton looked like one of the NBA’s best centers and a consistent 20-point, 10+ rebound player. And then there are games where he’s somewhat invisible on the court. Now some of this has to do with matchups and opponents against whom Ayton is better suited. But the fact is that the Lakers are a better and stronger team when he is active and making an impact on both ends of the court.

Before the Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick talked about the consistent message he has given the team throughout the season regarding getting the most out of Deandre Ayton.

“Our staff and his teammates, we definitely emphasize getting him the ball in pick and rolls when he has opportunities to duck in versus switching, or even if he gets a seal early in transition. It’s something we talk about a lot,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “I think the way we’ve coached him has been very consistent. So ultimately, the player has to be consistent. And that’s no knock on DA, that’s just the NBA.

“We’ve been very consistent in the way we’ve trained him. We recognized early on that, maybe it’s not a change, but something we’ve had to adapt to. I think we’re hopeful and optimistic that we’re going to get a consistent version of him over the course of the season.”

To this point, Ayton has appeared in 54 games at a rate of just over 27 minutes per game. He is averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds with a split of 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 66 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Last week, Ayton drew attention to himself by suggesting that the Lakers were trying to turn him into Clint Capela, and that’s not his game.

This season, Ayton’s points per game and shot attempts (8.6 per game) are both career lows. But some of this was to be expected when playing with on-ball threats like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

But by the numbers, Ayton has been one of the most dominant defensive players on the Lakers roster. In terms of regular rotation players, he is third in defensive rating at 115.0, behind Jared Vanderbilt and Luka Doncic, respectively. He has provided the Lakers with an interior anchor on that end.

This upcoming offseason, Ayton will have a decision to make as he has a player option for the 2026-27 season. His play later in the year and in the playoffs could go a long way toward his future on this Lakers team.


#Redick #relentlessly #challenges #Deandre #Ayton #growing #criticism

Deandre Ayton gets encouraging injury update after leaving Nuggets game

The Los Angeles Lakers received a somewhat encouraging update on center Deandre Ayton after he sat out Thursday’s 120-113 loss against the Denver Nuggets due to a knee problem.

Ayton’s night lasted only five minutes, during which the 7-footer collected two rebounds and missed his only field-goal attempt before heading to the locker room. The Lakers did not immediately rule him out, but ultimately he did not return.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick confirmed that Ayton’s early departure was due to left knee soreness, although the exact severity of the problem is unclear. Without his starting center, Redick adjusted the rotation by giving extended minutes to Jackson Hayes and deploying several small-ball lineups.

Hayes took advantage of his opportunity and produced 19 points, five rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes, while shooting 8 of 10 from the field. Los Angeles outscored Denver by seven points while Hayes was on the floor.

Ayton has been a regular presence in the lineup this season and has started more games than any other Laker. Over 54 games, he has averaged 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 blocks while shooting 66.7% from the field. However, injuries have occasionally hampered his campaigns. Of the eight games he has missed, five were related to knee problems, while four games early in the season were related to right knee soreness. He also sat out two games before the All-Star break due to the same issue.

Recent performance has also declined. In the seven games following the All-Star break, the 27-year-old averaged 9.9 points on 61.6% shooting and 7.6 rebounds, which is below his season production.

Los Angeles lost despite LeBron James’ historic milestone. The 23-year-old veteran passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA regular season history, recording the 15,838th basket of his career. James finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, shooting 7-for-11 (63.6%) from the field before leaving the closing moments with elbow trouble. Luka Doncic contributed 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets were paced by Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 23rd triple-double of the season with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, while Jamal Murray also scored 28 points.

The Lakers, now 37-25, will turn their attention to Friday night’s home game against the Indiana Pacers, when Ayton’s status will become more clear.


#Deandre #Ayton #encouraging #injury #update #leaving #Nuggets #game

Deandre Ayton misses remainder of Nuggets game with knee injury

The last thing the Los Angeles Lakers needed for Thursday night’s contest against the Denver Nuggets was for their thin frontcourt to become even weaker. But that’s exactly what happened, because according to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime, Deandre Ayton was forced out of the game early with a knee injury and will not return to action.

It’s unclear exactly when Ayton suffered the injury, but at least the Lakers considered it serious enough to keep him from continuing with the injury that night. The true extent of the severity of Ayton’s injury should be revealed after the game when the Bahamian big man undergoes more testing.

Ayton played only four minutes before exiting; He recorded only two rebounds in that short amount of time he played against the Nuggets.

Without Ayton, the Lakers will have to rely even more on Jackson Hayes, and head coach JJ Redick may deploy a smaller unit to try to get Jokic on offense.

Of course, this also comes with its fair share of disadvantages; Jokic is the toughest cover in the association on the interior, and the Lakers will have to scramble to try to slow him down and send multiple defenders towards him – potentially opening up the floor for other Nuggets to do damage.

Lakers take small steps as Nuggets aim to stretch after DeAndre Ayton injury

Angels Lakers forward Jake Laravia (12) celebrates with guard Marcus Smart (36) after a three-point basket in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
Kirby Lee-Images Images

No matter who covers him, Jokic is going to fill up the stat sheet. But the Lakers are at least getting him work on the defensive end. With Ayton out, Redick is really short, Marcus Smart is defending Jokic and trying to get in front of him in the post.

Smart, on the other hand, is getting a lot of open looks from beyond the arc. The Lakers are getting what they need on offense, and if that continues it’s up to them to shoot themselves to victory.


#Deandre #Ayton #misses #remainder #Nuggets #game #knee #injury

Haslem calls Ayton a ‘loser mentality’ after Capela’s comments

On paper, Deandre Ayton has enjoyed a great start to life with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 53 starts. Dig deeper, however, and the cracks begin to appear, mostly due to flaws on defense and Ayton’s refusal to become a role player on a roster loaded with offensive talent.

This was very evident in Ayton’s “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela” comment, which has drawn some harsh criticism from Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem.

“For Deandre Ayton, we’re talking about buying in. That’s a losing mentality. If that’s what’s required of you to put your team in a position to win a championship, then you’ve got to buy in and do your part,” he said, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints, suggesting that Ayton needs to be more open to his team’s needs.

The Lakers need the No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft to become a rim-running, screen-setting center and play a less offensive role with primary scorers like LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

“I played with the Big 3, the other 12 of us didn’t have the role we wanted. Only three guys had the role they wanted. Everybody else had to fill a gap and play their role to get wins. And you’re no different than Deandre Ayton. Play your role and get your ring or not,” Haslem concluded, referencing his time playing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James.

With Doncic orchestrating the offense and LeBron continuing to serve as one of the league’s most productive creators even early in his career, Los Angeles doesn’t need additional post-up scoring from its center. Instead, the offense requires vertical spacing, offensive rebounding, rim protection, and efficient finishing near the basket.

However, Ayton has a plus-minus of -65 since the All-Star break, primarily due to an erratic style of play with regular defensive lapses. His two-point performance against the Phoenix Suns also earned applause from Capela, who urged Ayton to be locked up because his team had two of the game’s best floor generals.

Needless to say, as Haslem has claimed, Ayton may need to embrace his new role with the Lakers, especially given the overall production their Big-3 is currently producing.


#Haslem #calls #Ayton #loser #mentality #Capelas #comments

Channing Frye hits out at Deandre Ayton over Clint Capela comment

DeAndre Ayton recently made headlines when he expressed his frustrations about his role for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was heard saying that the Lakers were turning him into “Clint Capela”, as if that in itself was a bad thing.

It seems as if Ayton wants a bigger role in the Lakers offense rather than being relegated to a roll man/dive option for players like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. But Ayton hasn’t shown enough consistency to warrant that kind of involvement in the Lakers offense.

Capela has known her role from day one and has tried to be the best version of herself as possible. And from the perspective of retired big man Channing Frye, he urged the Lakers center to do just that in a fiery speech on the Road Trippin’ Show.

“Deandre Ayton is not an expert at anything. In what world would I play basketball to Deandre Ayton when I’m messing with Austin Reeves, LeBron and Luka. Stop it. You’re going to fire JJ Redick. Who’s running those plays? When have you seen consistency in that guy? You’ve never seen it. So he said, ‘They want me to be Clint Capela.’ “Yeah, crap, he’s averaging double that for most of his career,” Fry said.

Deandre Ayton needs to buy into his role for the Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) reacts against the LA Clippers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
Kirby Lee-Images Images

Ayton’s offensive game hasn’t developed enough for him to be a consistent night-in-night option for the Lakers. It may be better to try to help the Lakers win rather than trying to do it your own way.

The 27-year-old big man has flourished on a winning team in the past, as he was the starting center on a team that was two wins away from winning the title. So it’s not that he doesn’t know what it takes to win. Now maybe it’s time for him to look in the mirror and admit that he probably isn’t “the one.”


#Channing #Frye #hits #Deandre #Ayton #Clint #Capela #comment

Deandre Ayton trolled by fans after embarrassing loss to Suns

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton tempted the basketball gods and karma when he reportedly complained that the team is trying to turn him into a version of lob threat/rim-runner Clint Capela. Less than 48 hours later, he had to pay a heavy price for those alleged locker-room comments. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft scored two points on 1-3 shooting with four rebounds and a steal. He was -24 on the court against the Phoenix Suns, as LA lost 113-110 at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Royce O’Neal deserves the spotlight after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with less than a second left on the clock, but the public is focusing most of its attention on Ayton. In the Lakers’ second consecutive disastrous loss, he disappeared against his former team and was force-fed a bigger slice of the modest pie. His performance tells the story effectively, but fans are expressing their opinions on the matter.

NBA fans flock to the Lakers’ Deandre Ayton

Chris Walder of Odds Shark posted on X, “Deandre Ayton said the Los Angeles Lakers were trying to make him Clint Capela, and in his first game after those comments, he started playing like Kwame Brown.”

For those wondering, Capela recorded four points, six rebounds, three assists and four blocks in just 17 minutes of action as the Houston Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic on the same night as Ayton’s loss.

@BeenHim16 declared, “On everything I love, if Deandre Ayton wasn’t 7 feet tall, he would literally be my DoorDash.” @jeff_on_sports commented, “The Deandre Ayton signing is going exactly like the haters said it would.” “Finally earned the #1 pick for the Suns,” @The_MilesFiles quipped. “Their best player tonight.”

Ouch. Ayton has experienced some good moments while wearing the purple and gold – totaling 21 points and 13 boards on Tuesday vs. the Magic – but his first season in L.A. has not gone as fans expected. The 27-year-old entered the Suns clash averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 49 games. Fans criticize him, but when at his best he can be a real difference maker.

Ayton has averaged a double-double for his career, so he should have the ability to make a consistent impact. However, Lakers and NBA fans aren’t seeing it. After this difficult run in Phoenix, the Bahamian has reached a crucial point in his Los Angeles tenure. He could allow himself to be filled with conflict and subsequent ridicule, or he could use this low point as motivation for the remainder of the campaign.

Which path will he take?


#Deandre #Ayton #trolled #fans #embarrassing #loss #Suns

Why DeAndre Ayton must take on the Clint Capela role he hates for Lakers success

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Deandre Ayton was heard saying the team has put him in a Clint Capela-like role. Capela, who is currently playing for the Houston Rockets, has made his career as a big man who does the dirty work on the glass and on the defensive end.

Capela was never a major scoring threat in the NBA, and he was never one to take many shots during a game. His career average is 8.1 field goal attempts per game, and in his 12-year career so far, he has only had two seasons where he made double-digit shot attempts.

But then again, Capela was a late first-round draft pick. He was not expected to become any kind of star player. He always knew what his role was in the NBA and he played that role well. Ayton, on the other hand, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. There has only been one season in his eight-year career where he has attempted fewer than 10 shots per game, and that is this season with the Lakers.

When the Lakers initially signed Ayton as a free agent last offseason, it wasn’t without some doubts. His previous stints with the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers were marred by alleged behavioral issues. But Ayton insisted he knew what was at stake in terms of his career when he joined the Lakers.

And now, more than halfway through the season, some of those issues are starting to resurface. But if DeAndre Ayton wants to continue to shape his image and the overall perception of him in a good way, he needs to embrace Clint Capela’s role for the Lakers.

Deandre Ayton becoming Clint Capela would help the Lakers

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Mark J. rebilas-imagen images

The way Ayton referred to his role in Capela’s transformation made it seem like he was a player of his caliber. But beyond all that, Capela actually played a major role as the starting center during a period when the Rockets were viewed as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.

His Rockets career averages are 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots while shooting 61.4 percent from the field. During the playoffs, he averaged 8.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots making 60.2 percent of his shots from the field. Again, Capela knew his role and played it to perfection.

According to Daniel Starkund of Lakers Nation, coming into this season, Ayton himself knew he would have to sacrifice some of his offense while playing alongside Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. The same three players will have the ball in their hands most of the time and will take the lion’s share of shot attempts. This is not a bad thing and this is how the Lakers should operate.

Ayton has already shown that he can be a good defensive anchor for the Lakers team. He has shown he can be employed on both ends of the court and on the glass. Before the Lakers’ matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on January 13, head coach JJ Redick mentioned how Ayton couldn’t fool anyone by giving up effort on the defensive end on a consistent basis.

“When he’s been engaged, he’s been good. There are some technical things we’ve worked on with him throughout the season, both in his individual workouts and in our defensive circles,” Redick said. “It’s just more consistency. He’s shown he can do that… DeAndre has shown it himself. He can be a really good defender.”

For a Lakers team that has faced problems defensively, Ayton could be the one that can make a big difference. It’s just that he has become more active on the defensive end when he is getting more consistent shot attempts.

However, there is a trade-off to this. Ayton is attempting a career-low 9.0 shots, but he is shooting a career-high 66.7 percent from the field. Playing alongside creators like Doncic, James and Reeves, the quality of his looks is going to be better.

Capela’s embrace of a role of playing strong defense and driving hard on the glass is important not only to raising the team’s ceiling, but also to furthering his NBA career. Should Ayton exercise his team option, he potentially has one more year remaining on his signed contract with the Lakers.

Whether he stays with the Lakers or chooses to go elsewhere, if he can show that he is capable of playing a Capela-like role, he will find a place in the league. The NBA is often a rude awakening for those who are accustomed to having the ball in their hands and being the primary offensive option. That was Ayton’s role during his lone season in Arizona. That was his role in high school.

But in the NBA, players don’t become No. 1 options at the end of their careers. It’s either there or it’s not. And Ayton has the potential to be a good complimentary player on a winning team. He just needs to understand this before it’s too late.


#DeAndre #Ayton #Clint #Capela #role #hates #Lakers #success

Deandre Ayton angry at LA ‘making him Clint Capela’

DeAndre Ayton had one of his best games as part of the Los Angeles Lakers when they faced the Orlando Magic, scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. Although they still lost, Ayton showed what he can do when he is involved in the offense, making him more active on the other side of the ball.

After the game, Ayton was asked if he felt his effort was being recognized by his teammates.

“The ball gets energy,” Ayton said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “When I’m out there and sealing and they believe in me and they see me sprinting to the sideline and crashing, they reward me.”

After doing media, Ayton went to the showers and yelled, “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela.”

This seems to be a reference to how Capela has been used for most of his career, which is as a rim-running, lob threat who can grab rebounds at a high level. Ayton is basically saying that there’s more to his game than that, and he’d probably like to utilize his strengths more.

Unfortunately for Ayton, his role on the Lakers is very similar to Capela’s, according to a team source.

“When he’s at his best, and we’ve seen it, we’ve seen glimpses of it, he’s playing with power,” the team source said. “And playing with great strength on both ends of the floor when it comes to screening. Then rolling and putting pressure on the rim; [when the] The bullet goes up, breaking the glass; running backs in transition; Loading for basketball; Calling your communication; To be in perfect condition; Competitive shots; Boxed out. These things are really thankless for big guys when you’re a skilled big guy. But that’s his role in this team.”

With all the other talent on the Lakers like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, it will be hard for Ayton to become who he truly believes he is.


#Deandre #Ayton #angry #making #Clint #Capela

Ayton makes ‘troubling’ statement about mediocre homestand

The Los Angeles Lakers reached the finish line with a mediocre record of 4-4 in an eight-game homestand after a dramatic 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic. This came just days after a 111–89 loss to the rival Boston Celtics, dropping them to 34–23 for the season.

DeAndre Ayton, who performed with 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Magic, said something that may also be true for most fans.

“It’s a little frustrating. We’ve still got a lot of opportunities to get in as good a position as we can. It felt weird being 4-4 ​​in the homestand,” he told ESPN, according to ESPN.

The Lakers played some big teams during this time, including the Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, and San Antonio Spurs.

“It was a tough loss and played against some very good teams. But… just get back in the lab and get ready for the next game,” Ayton concluded.

The loss against Orlando was particularly worrying. It was their first loss of the season after holding the lead for three quarters, during which they led 25–0 in the matchup.

Despite taking a 12-point lead in the second half, the Lakers’ defense collapsed as Austin Reaves scored all 18 of his points after halftime. They were torched by Paolo Banchero’s 36-point masterpiece, with Wendell Carter Jr.’s game-winning putback coming with just 6.7 seconds remaining.

In fact, Ayton proved to be a ray of hope, much like what happened with LeBron against the Celtics. The 41-year-old became the first NBA player to score over 43,000 points and tied Robert Parish for the second-most regular season games in NBA history with 1,600.

However, the Lakers lost both games, even though they were very much alive until the end against Orlando.


#Ayton #troubling #statement #mediocre #homestand

Deandre Ayton briefly detained for marijuana possession

Los Angeles Lakers center and former top draft pick Deandre Ayton was taken into custody on Tuesday on marijuana possession charges. According to reports, Ayton attempted to board a Bahamas airport while carrying Medicine.

“Feb 17 (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was detained at Lyndon Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas on Tuesday on suspicion of possessing a small amount of marijuana, his lawyer and two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters,” Reuters’ Jasper Williams-Ward, formerly of the X, reported on Twitter.

Ayton is in his first season with the Lakers, his third stop in an eight-year NBA career.


#Deandre #Ayton #briefly #detained #marijuana #possession

德安德烈·艾頓 (Deandre Ayton) 搞笑承認差點錯過勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 空中接力

他還是得逞了!勒布朗·詹姆斯已經 41 歲了,但這位洛杉磯湖人隊球星仍然充滿希望。在對陣華盛頓奇才隊的比賽中,詹姆斯起身接住了德安德烈·艾頓的空中接力。看到中鋒將球傳給這位年邁的球星,這是一個奇特的景象,但詹姆斯仍然能夠抓住高傳球,完成扣籃。

賽后,艾頓承認這場比賽的效果比他預想的要好得多。這位湖人球星開玩笑說,如果他把高球傳給其他人,他就會被坐在替補席上。不過,由於接球的是詹姆斯,所以他成功了。

“那太糟糕了。”艾頓告訴記者。 “我告訴 JJ,‘如果空中接力結束時不是勒布朗·詹姆斯,我就會坐在你旁邊’。然後他開始大笑。這就是事實。因為我想,‘喲,我把球扔出了界外。’”這是你在看台報告中看到的事情之一,勒布朗做了一些令人驚嘆的事情,這就是其中之一。他就是這麼做的。 ”

湖人隊快速擊敗奇才隊,以142-111擊敗奇才隊。對於洛杉磯來說,這是一場精彩、舒適的比賽:與他們之前的比賽相比,這是一種非常不同但受歡迎的基調。詹姆斯當晚拿下20分和6次助攻。與此同時,艾頓本場比賽也表現出色,拿下28分和13個籃板。不過,和往常一樣,盧卡·東契奇才是最引人注目的:這位湖人隊球星在比賽中拿下 37 分、13 個籃板和 11 次助攻的三雙數據。

湖人隊本賽季戰績提升至29勝18負,繼續掌控西部聯盟。本賽季,艾頓場均貢獻13.6分。他的籃板數可能會更好(場均 8.6 個籃板),但他已經為洛杉磯隊做到了這一點。


#德安德烈艾頓 #Deandre #Ayton #搞笑承認差點錯過勒布朗詹姆斯 #LeBron #James #空中接力

德安德烈·艾頓 (Deandre Ayton) 對陣猛龍隊的完美夜晚吸引了人們的注意

德安德烈·艾頓在周日晚上洛杉磯湖人隊戰勝多倫多猛龍隊的比賽中表現出色。

艾頓正在經歷他 NBA 職業生涯的第八個賽季,這是他在湖人隊的第一個賽季。他在終結盧卡·東契奇、勒布朗·詹姆斯和奧斯汀·里維斯為他創造的進攻方面取得了堅實的進步。這讓他在進攻中變得更加有效。

艾頓在面對多倫多防守時獲得的機會大放異彩。在整個 33 分鐘的比賽中,他得到 25 分、13 個籃板、1 次助攻和 1 次蓋帽的數據。他投籃10投10中,罰球6投5中。

根據 StatMuse 的數據,他的表現在這個正在進行的賽季中脫穎而出。他成為第一個在 100% 投籃命中率下獲得 25 分或以上得分和 10 個或以上籃板的球員。

湖人隊德安德烈·艾頓如何對陣猛龍隊

洛杉磯湖人隊中鋒德安德烈·艾頓(Deandre Ayton,5 歲)在 Crypto.com Arena 的上半場對陣多倫多猛龍隊前鋒桑德羅·馬穆克拉什維利(Sandro Mamukelashvili,54 歲)。
加里·A·瓦斯奎茲-伊瑪格圖像

德安德烈·艾頓憑藉出色的表現重回正軌,幫助湖人隊馴服了猛龍隊。

比賽一開始,多倫多隊就以30-23領先,第一節結束。洛杉磯隊從緩慢的開局中反彈,在常規賽的最後三節以87-63擊敗猛龍隊。

洛杉磯隊有四名球員得分上雙,其中包括艾頓。盧卡·東契奇緊隨其後,拿下25分、7次助攻、2個籃板、1次搶斷和1次蓋帽。他總共23投8中,其中在市中心12投5中,在慈善區5投4中。勒布朗·詹姆斯排名第二,得到24分和7次助攻,八村塁得到10分,馬庫斯·斯瑪特得到8分和5個籃板。

洛杉磯隊本賽季戰績為25勝16負,在西部積分榜上排名第六。他們比菲尼克斯太陽隊領先 0.5 個勝場,比金州勇士隊領先 2 個勝場,同時落後休斯敦火箭隊 0.5 個勝場,落後明尼蘇達森林狼隊 1 個勝場。

湖人隊將在客場期待下一場比賽。他們將於美國東部時間 1 月 20 日晚上 10 點迎戰丹佛掘金隊。


#德安德烈艾頓 #Deandre #Ayton #對陣猛龍隊的完美夜晚吸引了人們的注意