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Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif
Following their premature elimination from the playoffs, the Lakers are in the process of rebuilding. As a result, the American media are having fun dreaming up ways of dealing with their problems, one of which would lead to a former first-round draft pick.
There’s nothing pleasant about suddenly exiting the playoffs after having openly dreamed of the title. The Lakers and their fans are still struggling to come to terms with their elimination by the Timberwolves, having given up after just five games in this first-round series. For their part, the Lakers’ directors have no time to wallow in self-pity, and are already preparing for the off-season.
Inevitably eagerly awaited, Rob Pelinka seems to have a clear idea of his team’s needs. He made it clear to reporters that he has set two priorities for the summer market, one of which concerns the center position. Jaxson Hayes has shown his limitations in this postseason and should see a competitor arrive in the interior sector over the next few weeks.
Prestigious target tipped to become Lakers’ starting pivot
With this in mind, Andy Bailey has listed five realistic options for the Lakers at the 5 in Bleacher Report’s columns. One of them is none other than… Deandre Ayton, whose price could prove attractive according to the American journalist:
Andy Bailey: It would take more than Deandre Ayton’s 35.6 million salary to get him on the open market, but he would certainly cost fewer draft picks than other pivots.
Aware that the Blazers’ current big man doesn’t necessarily appear to be a dream target, Bailey nevertheless believes that he could represent a nice coup:
Andy Bailey: The 26-year-old center averages a career double-double (16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds). What’s more, he’s never played with a creator like Doncic (Chris Paul was no longer at his prime when he played alongside him in Phoenix).
His volume and efficiency as a scorer could increase with the Lakers, where he would represent an alley-oop threat along with Luka. And even if he’s not renowned for his circle-protecting skills, he appears to be an improvement on Hayes in this area. He’s also better than many players his size when he finds himself on the perimeter after defensive switches.
There’s no doubt that Ayton would have no trouble relegating Hayes to the bench if he were to join Los Angeles. It remains to be seen which players Pelinka and his assistants would have to sacrifice to lure him into their fold. On paper, a package consisting of Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt might suffice. It’s not certain, however, that Portland’s front office will be tempted by such an offer.
