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The Lakers have surprises! Signing Ayton is just the beginning, Pelinka makes another effort, Reeves replaces the top defensive champion?

3:06pm, 3 July 2025Basketball

According to the NBA China official website, DeAndre Ayton and the Lakers reached a two-year contract of 16.6 million. You can say that Ayton, who has a 35 million yuan, lacks cost-effectiveness, but 8 million is too "savory". After all, the Lakers have no bargaining chips to sign.

What can Ayton bring to the Lakers?

Season 24-25, Ayton's 96 shots came from mid-range, with a shooting rate of 45.8% - the ninth among the big shots, and his shooting rate was second only to Jokic's 51.7%. In addition, it should be noted that Ayton's middle distance has the ability to attack independently as autonomously as Durant and Leonard.

The medium distance has both quality and quantity, and it is obvious that Ayton can make the Lakers' offensive system more three-dimensional.

Just say one thing: After the All-Star season 24-25, the Lakers played a total of 16 key moment games, scoring a total of 132 points, ranking 10th in the league during the same period. The data seems to be good, but the problem is that the scores mainly come from Doncic, James, and Reeves. To be precise, from the outside.

Now with the arrival of Ayton, the Lakers' offensive system is no longer transitioning to the outside line as before, but rather a combination of internal and external lines.

Ayton's arrival has greatly strengthened the Lakers' weak inside line. The next step is to solve the lack of wing leaders to defend people. I think Pelinka can trade Reeves for Herbert Jones of the Pelicans.

Reason 1: Ball rights. Reeves has made 1,339 shots so far in his NBA career, of which 581 were from holding the ball, bringing a 19.1% ball usage rate. The three numbers of Ayton were 4926 times, 1121 times, and 21.1%. In other words, Reeves' ball rights Ayton can also "eat".

To put it more, Reeves' real shooting rate in his career is 62.6%, and Ayton's 61.3%.

Reason 2: Age. Reeves, born in May 1998, is 27 years old, and Ayton, born in July 1998, is about to be 27 years old. Theoretically, neither of them has reached their peak.

Reason 3: combat power. Reeves averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his career, and Ayton averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in his career. Although there is a lack of contrast in different positions, Ayton can fill the offensive gap left by Reeves' departure.

Reason 4: Long-term plan. Let’s not talk about Ayton and Doncic having a good personal relationship and being the same agent, just using the configuration of the forward guard and the center can play for many years.

In summary, Ayton can completely replace Reeves' role in the Lakers, and the age of 27 is also in line with the team's long-term plan.

What did Herbert Jones say?

First, the real plus-minus value of defense in the 240 games so far in NBA career is 1.4. In terms of honor, last season, Gobert, Davis, Vinban Yama and Adebayo were selected for the first defense team of the year.

In short, Jones can be understood as a top defensive champion.

For this reason, I think Pelinka is still very likely to be exchanged for Reeves.

Reason: Reconstruct. When Zion can sell it publicly, it is obvious that the Pelicans are ready to rebuild. For rebuilding teams, expiring contracts and draft picks are essential. And the Lakers have both of these points, and it is not impossible to become an All-Star if Reeves takes a short "theory".

In this regard, with attractiveness to the Pelicans, the potential deal between Reeves and Jones is still very likely to be reached.

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