Adding a talented center to the roster was the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest task in the offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers resolved this by welcoming Deandre Ayton to the team on a two-year deal. Ayton signed with the Lakers after finalizing his contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton looks locked in as he recently shared his ambition of winning an NBA Championship with the Purple and Gold.
Despite Ayton’s excitement to play for the Lakers, NBA analyst Nick Wright is bummed about the massive signing.
Photo by Soobum Im/Getty ImagesNick Wright explains why the LA Lakers should have signed Walker Kessler over Deandre Ayton
Signing a former No. 1 overall pick who is about to enter the prime of his career is usually viewed as a steal, especially considering Ayton will be earning a little north of $16 million over two years.
Even with that knowledge, Wright expected the Lakers to seriously pursue Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler this offseason.
“I went into the offseason realizing the Lakers unequivocally must acquire a center. They did not have one. And I give them credit for getting a center.
“For $8m, the dice roll on Deandre Ayton is a good one, it’s a bet I would have made,” Wright said on First Things First.
He added: “Would I have preferred something more substantial? Would I have preferred them to pull off a Walker Kessler deal? Absolutely.”
Nick Wright doesn’t ‘hate’ Deandre Ayton addition, but one move is a ‘downgrade’
Even with the Lakers being unable to acquire Kessler, Wright can live with the addition of Ayton. However, one move that he cannot accept is the signing of Jake LaRavia.
LaRavia signed as a free agent with the Lakers, essentially as a replacement for Dorian Finney-Smith.
“I don’t hate the Ayton addition, I’m not too optimistic, but I’m a little underwhelmed about the center they got, but aside from that, the roster got worse. LaRavia for Dorian Finney-Smith is a downgrade,” Wright stated.
While Wright may seem to think that, on the contrary, LaRavia and Ayton replacing DFS was a masterstroke.
After all, not only did the Lakers get a young forward off the bench, they finally have a starting-caliber center.