https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45652105/2025-nba-free-agency-winners-losers-offseason
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers
From the moment the Lakers acquired
Luka Doncic in a surprise blockbuster, they desperately needed a center. They lost their previous starter,
Anthony Davis, in the Doncic trade, and Doncic's game would mesh perfectly with a dynamic pick-and-roll partner. There's a reason
Daniel Gafford broke out once he joined Doncic in Dallas and that
Dereck Lively II was an impact rookie on the same team.
So it was no surprise that the Lakers agreed in principle to trade for a young, bouncy center immediately after acquiring Doncic. But when they rescinded the
Mark Williams deal because of a failed physical, the Lakers were stuck with the players they already had on the roster.
Jaxson Hayes started four playoff games but clearly didn't have coach JJ Redick's trust, as he played single-digit minutes in all four contests before being benched as Redick moved to a small-ball approach for all 48 minutes in the Lakers' final loss of the season.
At the very least, in the wake of the Lakers' disappointing playoff flameout, their top priority this summer seemed clear. And yet, a few days into the free agent frenzy, all of their top potential targets signed elsewhere, and they were stuck with
Deandre Ayton, a surprise addition to the market after a buyout agreement with the
Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton doesn't profile as an ideal short-term solution for a championship hopeful nor is he a long-term fit next to Doncic. The 2018 No. 1 pick -- two picks ahead of Doncic, incidentally -- is neither a rim runner nor a floor spacer, and his game peaked a half-decade ago. Despite persistently impressive box score stats, the best public advanced stats all rate Ayton as a below-average player.
Meanwhile, Ayton's two-year deal with a player option carries little upside for the team. If he's good in Year 1, he'll opt out, whereas if he doesn't gain Redick's favor, he'll stay on the team's books for a second season.
This is a dangerous game to play when the Lakers are trying to manage James' discontent and coax Doncic into signing a long-term extension later this summer. For now, there's not much about this roster that should compel his signature. The Lakers have an imbalanced rotation with a lot of power forwards --
Rui Hachimura,
Maxi Kleber,
Jarred Vanderbilt and, of course, James -- but no trustworthy centers, and their only move of consequence other than signing Ayton is replacing Finney-Smith with
Jake LaRavia.
The entire coaching staff, thank you for your leadership. I appreciate going to battle with ya’ll. 
