The Los Angeles Lakers' center rotation will be completely different this coming season compared to last season. They now have Walker Kessler, an elite shot-blocker and rebounder, starting at the position, with Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili backing him up.
Last season, the Lakers had Deandre Ayton, a skilled scorer and a capable rebounder with an inconsistent motor, starting at the 5. Jaxson Hayes, who can be a lob threat and can block shots but is extremely limited, was their main backup at the 5, with veteran Maxi Kleber getting spot duty. Ayton played well at times, but overall, he was seen as a disappointment, which led to Los Angeles' pursuit of Kessler this summer.
In an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports, legendary Lakers center
Shaquille O'Neal discussed the team's change in personnel at the center spot and criticized Ayton by saying he "didn't do anything."
“It’s only one great center and a lot of good centers,” O’Neal said. “I don’t know what the Lakers offense is gonna look like yet, but you got guys … they can do a lot of stuff around the rim, unlike ‘Dominayton,’ who didn’t do anything.”
Ayton averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds a game last season, which sounds solid enough, but both those numbers were career lows for him. He had to adjust to being lower on his team's offensive pecking order than he was used to, and while he was the best center available when L.A. signed him last summer, he simply wasn't up to the task of being its long-term solution.
After it secured Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz, it jettisoned Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks.
Ayton is still young (he turned 28 years of age on July 23), so he still has some time to improve his reputation and fulfill more of his potential. But as far as the Lakers are concerned, they now have a more proven center in Kessler who will also address their needs better than Ayton was willing or able to.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Shaq says former Lakers center Deandre Ayton 'didn't do anything'
