Lakers May Have Picked the Wrong Portland Center — And the Gap Is Growing

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Deandre Ayton, the front office believed they had finally found a long-term answer at center. A former No. 1 overall pick with elite physical tools and proven production, Ayton seemed like a natural fit alongside Luka Dončić.

But nearly two months into the season, the early returns paint a worrying picture — and the comparison to his former Portland teammate Robert Williams III makes the decision look even more painful.

😬 The Ayton Bet Isn’t Paying Off

Ayton’s résumé promised high-level scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. But instead of elevating the Lakers’ frontcourt, he has regressed in several critical areas:

• Turnover rate: up nearly 50% — now a career high
• Assist rate: cut in half
• Rebounding rate: at a career low
• Defense: graded as below replacement level
• Net impact: inconsistent and unreliable

His efficiency is high — largely due to Dončić and Austin Reaves spoon-feeding him easy looks — but the overall package has been far from what a championship contender needs at the five.

Even worse: his biggest weaknesses (contact avoidance, defensive inconsistency, rebounding lapses) are the exact areas the Lakers needed to improve.

🔄 Meanwhile, Robert Williams Is Showing the Lakers What They Missed

The sting comes from the fact that Robert Williams III was extremely available over the summer. Injury concerns kept his price low, and his expiring $13.3M contract made him a clean short-term play.

The Lakers were linked to Williams repeatedly — but ultimately chose Ayton instead.

Now healthy, Williams is quietly thriving in his role:

• More blocks than Ayton despite playing a third of the minutes
• Block rate 3x higher
• Defensive BPM: +2.0 (Ayton is at –1.1)
• Turnovers: 4 total (!), compared to Ayton’s 36
• Stronger rebound, steal, and assist rates
• Elite rim protection and vertical spacing — the exact skill set Dončić thrives with

Williams isn’t a high-usage scorer, but he plays mistake-free, impact basketball — the kind of center Dončić historically elevates and thrives with.

🏀 The Harsh Reality for the Lakers

Rob Pelinka believed Ayton’s ceiling was worth betting on. And perhaps there’s still time for the move to pay off. But early-season evidence is mounting:

Ayton is volatile. Williams is consistent. Ayton is talented. Williams is impactful.

And for a team with championship expectations, impact is all that matters.

The unpleasant truth at this stage of the season:

The Lakers chose the wrong Portland center — and the gap is widening.