😠 Can James save Ayton s career? If he couldn t, Ayton would be helpless

Translator's note: This article was originally published in the Los Angeles Times, and the author is Dylan Hernández. The data in the article are as of the original article as of July 3rd local time. The views in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform. The Lakers found their next starting center and they got him without paying the price of Austin Reeves.

There are reasons for this.

DeAndre Ayton, although he possesses excellent athleticism and skills as a 7-foot (about 2.13 meters) big man, is better known at this stage of his career.

His annoying instability. His defensive lack of passion. He is not motivated. He has difficulty maintaining a healthy body.

If you don't like Anthony Davis, you may hate Ayton even more. Davis at least always does his duty—or at least he won’t be deaf about the outside world, and Ayton obviously isn’t.

"I have nothing to prove in this league," Ayton once told senior NBA reporter Mark Medina. "I am a maximum-paid player and will always be a maximum-paid player."

No wonder the Portland Trail Blazers officially lost patience with Ayton over the weekend, opening the door for the Lakers to sign him at a low price by buying out his contract.

The Lakers are betting on what they can do for the Trail Blazers and Ayton’s former club Phoenix Suns have not been able to do - they believe they can activate Ayton’s inner engine and keep it roaring.

From the perspective of physical and technical aspects, Ayton is fully capable of becoming the kind of player the Lakers need him to be. However, for most athletes who are still unburned with strong desires at the age of 26, it is hard to expect them to suddenly burst into fighting spirit at the age of 27 - and later this month, Ayton is about to turn 27.

This is exactly why the Lakers should be glad they still have LeBron James.

Who can teach a player who has been unable to fulfill his talent for a long time to maximize his talent than a player who is preparing to start a record-breaking season 23? On the other hand, if this NBA historical scoring champion cannot inspire Ayton, then who else can do it?

40-year-old James will provide the Lakers with an opportunity to touch Ayton's heart, which in turn will give them a chance to compete for another championship.

Judging from the existing lineup, the Lakers are obviously still lagging behind NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers belong to the second tier of the Western Conference and are at the same level as the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers. This is roughly where they were last season.

The Lakers are still looking for a shooter, and they still need to find a way to solve the problem of how to limit their opponents' offense. They also need Ayton to surpass the level he showed in the first seven seasons of his NBA career, although his career average of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds is already pretty good.

James will lead by example. He will demonstrate the work habits required to be a stable player. He will show attention to detail, an attitude that may prompt Ayton to readjust his understanding of basketball games.

Reeves benefited from the influence of James, and so was Hachimura Shiraki. . But then again, Reeves and Hachimura Shizuo were happy to accept this kind of guidance. Will Ayton?

Reshaping Ayton's 27-year-old's idea of ​​thinking may seem slim, but consider this: Ayton reached his personal best when he had a veteran like Chris Paul while playing for the Suns.

When the Suns introduced 35-year-old Paul before the 2020-21 season, Ayton was already a third-year player on the team. With Ayton playing a key role, the Suns made it to the NBA Finals and eventually lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.

That playoff journey provided an example of how Ayton could respond positively to experienced leaders and how he could most effectively play his role on the court.

The mobility of Ayton was once a very threatening offensive point around Paul. For Luca Doncic, he should also become a dangerous aerial threat point. Ayton's ability to hit a mid-range jumper once opened up space for the Suns, and this skill will undoubtedly be fully utilized by new head coach JJ Redick.

However, if Ayton cannot go all out in every night's game, the arrangement of troops on the tactical board will lose its meaning. Ayton agreed to buy out the contract, probably hoping to rewrite the narrative of his career. This is his chance to prove himself. He will have an organizational core like Doncic and be in a team like the Lakers that are determined to compete for the championship. Perhaps most importantly, he will have a mentor like James.