Tim Legler thinks one signing Luka Doncic helped the LA Lakers complete could come back to haunt him.
Luka Doncic has proven to be far more valuable than the Los Angeles Lakers could have imagined. While Doncic didn’t immediately provide high returns, this offseason has proven that he could be the glue guy.
The LA Lakers entered this offseason knowing that they needed to make changes to their roster. But few would have expected Doncic to play such a key role in that.
Luka Doncic helped bring his friend Deandre Ayton to the Lakers. Knowing how well Luka does with a big man, landing a friend and player like Ayton is a big boost to both him and the Lakers.
But he didn’t stop right there. Doncic also helped bring Marcus Smart to the Lakers, adding to their defensive depth next season.
The Lakers have relied on Doncic in a proto-GM role this offseason. But Tim Legler thinks one of his recruitment drives will backfire next season.
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty ImagesTim Legler says Deandre Ayton could be miserable on LA Lakers
Tim Legler spoke on the All-NBA Podcast recently about the future of many NBA teams. When talking about the LA Lakers, he presented a nightmare scenario.
Legler brought up Deandre Ayton’s prior attitude issues on the court, and questioned whether these issues could cause a fit problem in Los Angeles.
“I’m not saying it’s going to happen. I’m just giving you the ‘what if’ scenarios that could trend it in that direction. What if they’re just completely unhappy with Deandre Ayton, like he doesn’t fit in at all?
“He’s a guy that needs the basketball, like he’s not a screen dive guy. When he’s been asked to do that, he’s been miserable in his career.
“He’s a guy that’s a talented offensive player. So he wants touches. He wants low-post touches. He wants elbow touches on pick and pops. He wants to be included.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James could make things difficult for Deandre Ayton
Legler added that, given LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s ball-dominant nature, Ayton might not enjoy the control and possession he usually likes.
“How much is he going to be included with the extent to which Luka Doncic and LeBron James dominate the ball, and they’re both willing passers, but they dominate the ball throughout the possession?
“They eat up the clock with how much they have the ball. So you’ve got quicker decisions to make if you’re off-ball for the Lakers.
“And I don’t know that that’s Deandre Ayton, so he might be a bad fit. They might be miserable with the guy. That could be a problem for them.”
This is a fair concern, given Ayton’s prior behavior issues. But one has to imagine that Ayton is aware that this might be his last chance to play for a big team.
Ayton should do his best to adapt to the Lakers. Whatever role they need him in, he should play that role to the best of his abilities.