The Los Angeles Lakers are winning games, but calm is not exactly the word that defines their season. At 26-17 and fifth in the Western Conference, the standings suggest stability. On the floor, though, the picture feels less settled, especially for a team with championship ambitions and a roster built to contend right now.
Injuries have complicated the story. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves have all missed time, forcing the Lakers into constant adjustments. Even so, fans and analysts keep circling back to the same issue: the center position still feels unsettled.
LeBron James receives an “interesting” look from Candace Parker while venting to Dwyane Wade
That spotlight has landed squarely on Deandre Ayton. Brought in to provide size, scoring, and reliability, Ayton is instead posting career-low production at 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The frustration peaked in a recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when he managed just four points and five rebounds before spending the final 19 minutes on the bench.
“Can I say the quiet thing out loud real quick? Deandre Ayton gonna find himself out of the league in the next two years…
LeBron might be done with Ayton says Perkins
That performance set the stage for a blunt assessment from Kendrick Perkins on the Road Trippin’ Show. Perkins questioned Ayton’s long-term future in the league if his current level of engagement continues, pointing to a pattern that followed him from the Phoenix Suns to the Portland Trail Blazers. Reports during those stops detailed concerns about effort, professionalism, and chemistry.
Perkins also hinted that the situation in Los Angeles might be reaching a breaking point with LeBron. Having played alongside James, Perkins suggested he recognizes the signs when LeBron’s trust in a teammate starts to fade. For a veteran star chasing another title late in his career, patience is a limited resource.
“I’ll pass it to Channing and RJ, we all played with LeBron James, Boy, I know the signs when LeBron is off your a-s. I know the signs and, well, it’s getting to that point…
The urgency is only increasing. With Reaves sidelined by a calf injury, the Lakers need consistent production from their center more than ever. Ayton has shown what that can look like, most notably with a flawless 25-point, 13-rebound performance against the Toronto Raptors, a game that even earned public praise from Doncic.
The problem is sustaining it. Los Angeles is still searching for the kind of dependable interior presence it once had with Anthony Davis anchoring the paint every night. Ayton was expected to fill that role. As the trade deadline approaches, the question is no longer just about fit. It is about whether the Lakers believe he can deliver consistently before time runs out.
