When the Los Angeles Lakers pulled the trigger to acquire DeAndre Ayton, there were questions across the league. Was this a desperation move? Was Ayton really the piece they needed? For the Lakers front office and coaching staff, the answer was immediate and resounding: yes.

This was not just a move to make headlines—it was a calculated step toward addressing critical weaknesses, and there are very specific reasons why they believe Ayton is going to give them exactly what they’ve been missing.

The Lakers haven’t had a reliable, athletic, and skilled big man who could consistently anchor both ends of the floor since the days when Anthony Davis was in peak form.

While Davis remains one of the best two-way players in the league, the team has often relied too heavily on him staying healthy and carrying the interior load. Ayton’s arrival changes that dynamic instantly. He gives the Lakers size, rim protection, and rebounding without sacrificing mobility or offensive skill.

What makes Ayton so valuable in this context is his physical profile combined with his touch around the basket. At 6’11” with a 7’6” wingspan and elite vertical ability, Ayton has the physical tools to dominate in the paint. But more importantly, he’s refined his game.

His midrange shot is reliable, he can hit free throws at a solid clip for a big man, and he doesn’t need a high volume of touches to be effective. That’s crucial for a team with primary scorers like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

One of the Lakers’ biggest problems last season was consistency at the center position. Whether it was the rotating cast of role players, small-ball lineups, or underwhelming rim protection, the lack of stability in the paint often led to breakdowns—particularly against bigger, more physical teams in the West.

With Ayton now slotted in, those vulnerabilities are significantly reduced. He can handle the nightly physicality of facing centers like Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, or Jonas Valančiūnas without wearing down the Lakers’ other frontcourt pieces.

The Lakers also know that Ayton thrives in pick-and-roll actions, and that fits perfectly with how D’Angelo Russell and LeBron James like to initiate offense.

Whether it’s the short roll, the lob threat, or sealing off smaller defenders on a switch, Ayton gives the Lakers a new layer of versatility in their offensive sets. He can be both a finisher and a decision-maker in the flow of the offense, and he rarely forces bad shots.

Defensively, Ayton may not be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but he’s smart, capable, and improving. He understands verticality, challenges shots at the rim without fouling excessively, and can hedge and recover on pick-and-rolls.

More importantly, his presence means the Lakers no longer have to rely solely on Davis for rim protection, allowing AD to roam and wreak havoc as a help defender—something he does better than anyone in the league when healthy.

There’s also the mental and motivational aspect. Ayton is coming to the Lakers with something to prove. After years of up-and-down relationships with coaches and management in Phoenix, he’s walking into a franchise that believes in him—one that sees his value and is giving him a clean slate.

That matters. The Lakers are banking on the idea that a motivated Ayton, with championship expectations, will tap into the star potential he’s always had but never fully unlocked in Phoenix.

Another important reason the Lakers are confident is Ayton’s age and contract situation. At just 27 years old, he’s entering what should be the prime of his career. His skill set is still developing, and the Lakers believe they can get the best out of him by placing him in a more structured and focused environment.

Unlike other veterans who may be on the decline, Ayton still has room to grow—and that upside is part of why the Lakers made the move.

Off the court, Ayton brings a quieter demeanor compared to some of the Lakers’ past acquisitions. He’s not a media magnet or someone who demands the spotlight.

That fits well with the current locker room culture, where LeBron and Davis set the tone, and everyone else is expected to fall in line, work hard, and compete. Ayton’s calm personality and low-maintenance approach are exactly the type of character traits the Lakers value in role players and secondary stars.

There’s also a roster balance aspect that the Lakers front office couldn’t ignore. With Ayton in the fold, the Lakers can stagger Davis’s minutes more effectively. They can experiment with lineups that keep size on the floor at all times without sacrificing spacing or rebounding.

They can also play bigger against teams that punish small ball lineups, something that was a significant issue in the playoffs last season. Ayton gives them flexibility—not just in rotation, but in game planning across different matchups.

Critics will point to Ayton’s perceived lack of killer instinct or inconsistency in big moments. That’s fair—he hasn’t always risen to the occasion. But the Lakers believe that’s more a product of environment than ability.

With the leadership of LeBron, the accountability of the Lakers’ coaching staff, and the expectations that come with wearing purple and gold, they expect Ayton to respond. He doesn’t have to be the guy—he just has to be reliable, focused, and engaged. And in that context, he could thrive.

From a financial perspective, Ayton’s contract isn’t a burden for the Lakers when viewed through the lens of the modern NBA market. His salary fits snugly into the second-tier star range, and if he performs to expectations, he becomes one of the best-value big men in the league. And even if things don’t work out long-term, his deal is moveable, and his talent will always have suitors.

Training camp reports and early preseason whispers have only reinforced the Lakers’ optimism. Coaches are impressed with Ayton’s conditioning and his buy-in on both ends. Teammates have praised his attitude and work ethic. The vibe is that Ayton understands this is a pivotal moment in his career—and he’s not taking it for granted.

In the end, the Lakers didn’t bring in DeAndre Ayton expecting him to carry the franchise. They brought him in because he fills specific gaps, raises their floor, and gives them a chance to play big and physical again.

They needed someone who could defend the rim, finish around the basket, rebound reliably, and stay healthy. Ayton checks all those boxes—and that’s exactly why they’re confident he’ll give them what they’ve been missing.

This move isn’t just about talent—it’s about fit, timing, and opportunity. And for the Lakers, all signs point to Ayton being the right man for the job.