It’s likely the Los Angeles Lakers have grown weary of Deandre Ayton’s lackluster play in the low post.
The former Phoenix Suns big man is among the most talented big men in the league, yet rarely performs up to his potential on the hardwood for reasons the public probably won’t ever understand.
When the offseason arrives, Lake Show Life’s Chris Lambert believes that the Lakers could part ways with Ayton and replace him with a 6-foot-11 New Orleans Pelicans center who earned All-Rookie second team honors last season.
“Missi should be there for the taking via trade with the Pelicans,” Lambert wrote Thursday.
“He isn’t a complicated big man—he crashes the glass hard, is tough, has freakish athleticism, and great shot-blocking instincts. This simple playing style is reflected in his season averages: 5.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.”
“If the Lakers are looking to maximize Doncic and move on from the Ayton experiment, they should look no further than Missi this summer. The second-year big man would give LA a younger, athletic center while also addressing their rebounding and rim protection problems.”
Is Missi as skilled as Ayton at this stage of his career? No, and it’s not even up for debate. However, in addition to having a higher motor than Ayton, Missi is a more reliable rim protector, offensive rebounder, and isn’t as foul-prone.
Los Angeles can’t afford to move forward with a center who isn’t always prepared to give maximum effort on the hardwood, making a potential trade for Missi a wise option.
Assuming Ayton, who’s averaging 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game, continues to play up-and-down basketball in Los Angeles and Missi continues to play his role adequately in New Orleans, an offseason swap isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
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