Paul Pierce is not too excited about the Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Deandre Ayton. The former NBA All-Star expected more from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the team has had a relatively quiet summer thus far.
While Ayton fills a much-needed void at center for the Los Angeles Lakers, Pierce believes they are a few more moves away from being a legitimate championship contender next season.
“If you had told me they were getting the Joker or Antetokounmpo. Then, I’d think, ‘Oh, they should be the favorites.’ But since they’re getting a guy who’s still trying to find his way in the NBA, he’s been on multiple teams, this being his third team in I believe in six years of being the No. 1 pick, and not really, yet, finding a home, I’m not sure how much he pushes the needle,” Pierce said on FS1’s Speak.
“Yes, he can bring some intangibles that they need,” Pierce added. “A shotblocker, a lob threat, and a big guy in the middle are all things that the Lakers needed. So, to answer your question, what’s the Lakers’ ceiling with Deandre Ayton? I think they’re still in need of more athleticism and more defense on the perimeter. I think they’re a second-round ceiling.”
Los Angeles Lakers News: Deandre Ayton drops strong response to his critics
During his introductory press conference, Deandre Ayton said he is determined to win a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he didn’t hesitate to address the criticism he has faced throughout his NBA career.
“It fuels me. It fuels me up completely. And it’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is the perfect timing, here in the purple and gold,” Ayton said via Khobi Price on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“And it’s a platform I cannot run from. I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. It is a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world,” he added.
