The Lakers improved by signing Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, but the job is not finished.
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As we enter the heart of the NBA offseason, the Lakers have made two big moves. They signed Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.
Ayton was acquired via the buyout market, and the hope is that he will be the best version of himself here in Los Angeles.
He said he wanted to be in a winning situation and as the Lakers’ projected starting big, Ayton will have a chance to prove his critics wrong.
It feels as though Lakers fans have been asking for a center for years. Anthony Davis certainly asked for one and when L.A. traded for Luka Dončić, he also wanted a big on the roster.
The Lakers tried to appease Dončić by trading for Mark Williams, but after the trade was rescinded, the need for a center remained.
It seems the Lakers addressed this top priority by signing Ayton, but does he solve the team’s center problem?
We asked Lakers fans this question in our latest SB Nation Reacts Poll, and 69% think Ayton is the answer.
Ayton is clearly better than any center option the Lakers had last year. So, it makes sense that Lakers fans see this as the solution to the team’s frontcourt woes.
He is a double-double machine and if he backs up his talk with his walk, Ayton can put up big numbers with Luka tossing him lobs.
The Lakers also re-signed Jaxson Hayes and now that he is likely the backup in L.A., he is slotted in a better position given his skillset.
Los Angeles lost nothing in the center department this summer. Given how the league is shifting towards wings and guards, their options at the five should be sufficient.
The other main addition the Lakers have made so far is LaRavia. Signing him should help ease the pain of losing Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency.
LaRavia is a young player and is coming off a season where he shot 42% from 3-point range. With head coach JJ Redick guiding him, there’s an opportunity for LaRavia to have a career year this upcoming season.
With an upgrade at center and bringing in LaRavia, have the Lakers done enough this summer?
Lakers fans don’t seem to think so, as only 43% are pleased with L.A.’s offseason.
It’s one thing to like the moves a team is making, but it’s another for those deals to be enough to contend.
The Lakers won 50 games last season, but after losing to the Wolves in the playoffs and seeing how good the Thunder were, it’s hard to look at Los Angeles as the team to beat.
To reach that next tier of greatness, players like LaRavia, Ayton and even Austin Reaves will have to have great seasons. Either that or President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka will have to make a trade at some point to give the Lakers a better shot at winning.
As usual, the pressure is on in Los Angeles. LeBron James certainly wants the team to improve and while Luka is the future, you have to convince him that this is the franchise to commit to long term.
The best way to do that is by making moves that show Luka, LeBron and everyone else that the Lakers are contenders today and tomorrow.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.