One of the advocates for Deandre Ayton within the Lakers is one of his former coaches in assistant Scott Brooks.
The Lakers’ signing of Deandre Ayton came entirely out of nowhere. A week before the start of free agency, the conversations around Ayton were of the reluctance to trade for him.
His buyout dramatically changed the situation and greatly increased the likelihood of the Lakers acquiring him. Ultimately, the Lakers did, obviously, sign Ayton, a decision that perhaps might have been made easier by the input of someone with experience coaching Ayton.
Prior to joining the Lakers’ coaching staff under head coach JJ Redick, Scott Brooks served on the Blazers coaching staff under Chauncey Billups. From 2021 through 2024, Brooks was based in Portland and coached Ayton in his final season.
While it was a relatively brief time, Brooks was convinced enough by Ayton that he reportedly advocated for him with the Lakers, according to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein.
Ayton is said to have had another advocate within the Lakers’ ranks recommending that L.A. sign him: Former Blazers-turned-Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks.
For all the talk about his bad habits and frustrating tendencies, that Brooks, someone who coached him and has that experience firsthand, went to bat for him does speak loudly.
Realistically, this is one of Ayton’s final shots. While he won’t be out of the NBA anytime soon necessarily, this is an intersection of one of his final real chances and maybe the biggest spot in his career and certainly since his Finals run with the Suns.
This is a big moment for Ayton and if this goes poorly, perception of him changes in a way that perhaps can’t be undone.
It’ll help that it appears he has at least one believer in him on the coaching staff in Brooks, but hte pressure is on for Ayton this season.
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