The Los Angeles Lakers made an important move by signing Deandre Ayton in free agency. Having addressed their most pressing concern, the Purple and Gold now expect him to deliver. Lakers legend Mychal Thompson spoke about these expectations on “Hoop Talk with Allen Silwa”.
Thompson addressed what it meant to be a Laker and to wear the jersey. By doing so, he also presented a challenge for Ayton to fulfill during his debut season with the team. He said:
“It comes down to Deandre Ayton and how bad he wants it. If he wants to be an All-Star caliber center, he might not make the All-Star team, but if he wants to play at that level, the Lakers will be a serious threat to beat Oklahoma City next year.
“If Deandre wants to take his game up to 20 points, 12 rebounds a game, kind of center, the Lakers can contend for a championship… how easy is that to do? You should be able to do that every night at 27 years of age, coming into his prime.”
Thompson even broke down how his statistical contributions could be split up into quarters. With five points and three rebounds a quarter, Ayton would effectively average 20 and 12, making him a legitimate All-Star caliber center.
Thompson effectively set a target for the 27-year-old big man. Given the extent of his abilities, Ayton is more than capable of achieving these numbers. But Thompson made a great point of addressing that it has to be something he wants. The motivation has to be internal.
The Lakers legend also addressed how important it is for Ayton to play hard because of his origins. As a native of the Bahamas himself, Thompson said:
“The Lakers are the Bahamas’s favorite team… And now one of their native sons has a chance to put on a Laker uniform.”
Thompson elaborated on the level of popularity and attention Ayton would receive back home, adding that Ayton would be aware of that. In light of this, he added:
“So if all that doesn’t motivate him to want to make his countrymen proud, then there’s nothing that can be done. But I think he will understand the enormous opportunity he has here and the responsibility he has now being a Laker center.”
Last season, the big man recorded an average of 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds with the Portland Trail Blazers. When considering the kind of talent he was surrounded by and the limited number of games he played in, it is evident that he didn’t maximize his potential.
In Los Angeles, however, things will be different. The conditions for Ayton to be effective are in place. Paired with a capable playmaking guard like Luka Doncic, who can bring out the best in him, the 27-year-old has all the tools needed to be successful. It is simply a matter of desire.
The Lakers will certainly look to Ayton as a significant contributor in their starting rotation. As their primary big man option, the 27-year-old will be tasked with completing a lot of key plays on both ends of the floor. Should he succeed in doing his job, the Purple and Gold could be a very threatening side in the West.