"Between Austin, Luka, and LeBron, he ain't getting many shots" - Colin Cowherd believes Deandre Ayton is a desperation move by the Lakers originally appeared on Basketball Network .
As the opening days of the NBA's free agency frenzy wrapped up, Los Angeles Lakers fans found themselves growing anxious. The team's search for a starting center had yet to yield results, leaving a glaring need for a reliable big man after Jaxson Hayes started 35 games last season.
Relief finally arrived when reports surfaced that Deandre Ayton had agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers following his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers .
With this move, the purple and gold appeared to have secured their solution in the paint. As fans celebrated the move, which finally gave the Lakers the center they'vethey longed for, popular sports commentator Colin Cowherd doused the excitement by saying he doesn't believe the 7-footer fits the team's needs.
The Lakers pride themselves on being a franchise that gets their man. They have a history of making big moves and acquiring top talent to build championship teams. However, the situation with Ayton appears different. According to Cowherd, the signing reeks of desperation on the part of the Lakers' front office.
After missing out on key free agent targets such as Brook Lopez and Clint Capela , who signed with the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets , respectively, the Lakers were left scrambling to fill their center position. With limited options available, they turned to Ayton, whom the Blazers no longer wanted on their team.
" Deandre Ayton , who I don't think necessarily is a good fit. Laker fans are banging on the table — you've got to do something. You've got to do something. You've got to do something!" Colin stated on "The Colin Cowherd Podcast."
Cowherd contended that just because the Lakers had to do something didn't mean they had to. In this case, they signed a young player who has had a history of underachieving in stints with the Phoenix Suns and the Blazers.
Blazers bought him out. It didn't work in Portland. It did not work in Phoenix. Distracted, not necessarily — like if there was an NFL comp, it'd be Kyler Murray. You know, it's like, you see some talent, but you're like, are you really in?" Colin argued.
Deandre is, by no means, a scrub. He was the first pick of the 2018 NBA Draft and helped the Suns advance to the 2021 NBA Finals by averaging 15.8 points on 65 percent shooting and 11.8 rebounds. Truth be told, he is a talented 26-year-old whose biggest issues are the lack of consistency and effort.
"I think he views himself as a much more important offensive piece than any coaching staff has viewed him. And between Austin, Luke, and LeBron, he ain't getting many shots," Colin stressed. "I mean, he wasn't getting them in Portland, and Portland's got a bunch of kids who needed his offense. So this, to me, is a complete desperation move."
Cowherd believes the Lakers were forced into this signing after seeing the front lines of the competing teams in the West get even larger. The Clippers now have Lopez and Ivica Zubac . The Denver Nuggets added Jonas Valanciunas to back up three-time MVP Nikola Jokic . Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks added size and versatility when they drafted Cooper Flagg with the top pick.
"In the West, Jokic, OKC's got two bigs. Minnesota's got size. You start looking around, Dallas has four different players on their front line. You can't be small. The Warriors know this the last three years — you can't be a small team out West," he asserted. "It's not a great fit. It'll last a year or two, but I think they had to do something."
Despite his flaws, the Lakers improved with Ayton as their starting center. Now, fans and pundits must see how long the honeymoon lasts.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
