Despite 40-year-old LeBron James serving as a focal point, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a retool and youth movement. As the team pivots to Luka Doncic as the face of the franchise, it is expected that they will spend money to retain Austin Reaves next summer instead of James.
Of course, the Lakers have an entire season to get through before then, and they are definitely in the mix. Despite losing Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency, the Lakers remain one of the best teams in the Western Conference thanks to the additions of Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Deandre Ayton.
Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are the only two true centers on the roster, and while Ayton has had his fair share of ups and downs in his career, Los Angeles will lean on him as their most important player.
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 9: Deandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers practices before throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on August 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Deandre Ayton Named Los Angeles Lakers’ Key Piece
The three best players on the Lakers are pretty obviously Doncic, James, and Reaves, in that order. After that, things get murky, and the Lakers will need their role players to successfully step up.
After losing Finney-Smith, wing defense is a massive concern for the Lakers, although all of their major flaws could be fixed if Ayton can hold down the paint as an above-average starter.
“Deandre Ayton is the piece,” said Bryce Simon on the September 22nd episode of the Game Theory Podcast. “If he comes in and he’s a lob threat and figures out things defensively, or what if he does develop chemistry with Luka in the pick-and-roll? Or has some chemistry with Austin Reaves in the second unit if they’re playing together in second units? All of a sudden, this is a hole in the team…that gets answered.”
A lineup with Doncic handling the ball, James serving as a secondary scorer, and Reaves and LaRavia spacing the floor only works if Ayton fills his role well, which is why he is the most important player on the team.
Lakers Don’t Have a Backup for Ayton
In his seven NBA seasons, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds while being an efficient interior scoring threat. He is far from a star, although the Lakers don’t need an All-Star down low, just someone reliable.
While he will have less responsibility than the three stars, the Lakers don’t really have a backup plan if he gets injured or falls short. In the event that one of the stars misses time, the other two can shoulder a larger scoring load, although the Lakers don’t have another proven pick-and-roll scorer or rebounder.
“No matter what the wing situation is, if Ayton is a disaster, you have to go solve that, even if [LaRavia, Knecht, and Hachimura] aren’t the answer on the wing,” Simon added. While James, Reaves, and Doncic are not great defenders, all of them can be capable, giving LA some flexibility on the wings if needed.
Hayes is a better defender than Ayton, although he has rarely been used as a starter and was benched by JJ Redick in the Lakers‘ first-round playoff exit, so the brunt of the frontcourt play is clearly on their offseason addition.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Title Hopes Start and End With Overlooked Player