Even Luka Doncic can’t save the central disaster of the Lakers without a major overhaul

The Los Angeles Lakers they were so desperate for a center last offseason that they were happy to get just about anyone to fill minutes at five. However, it is already evident after one game Deandre Ayton isn’t exactly the bestand there is still no depth at the pivot point.

The Lakers lost the first game against the Golden State Warriors despite Luka Doncic having a game for the ages. The Slovenian superstar scored 43 points, added 12 rebounds and just one assist away from a triple-double. Aside from Austin Reaves, Doncic had very little help, and the flaws that were evident against Golden State could plague the Lakers all season.

The Lakers have a problem at center

The The Lakers traded for Doncic in one of the most shocking deals ever last season. The move was widely seen as a huge blow in the Lakers’ favor, but without Anthony Davis, the team didn’t have anyone worthy of a center position. Jackson Hayes was used late last season, but the Lakers were also forced to play non-centers such as Rui Hachimura and LeBron James in the box.

That’s why adding a center in the offseason was the top priority, but there weren’t many on the open market. The The Lakers were able to sign Ayton after The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the former first overall pick of his contract. At the time, it seemed like the Trail Blazers were just creating space as they had a jam at center. First-rounders Donovan Clingan and Hang Jansen need center minutes, as do Duop Reath and Robert Williams.

However, it’s quickly becoming apparent that the Trail Blazers were on to something, and the reasons why Ayton fell out of Phoenix and Portland are clear. Against the Warriors, Ayton scored just 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, despite seeing more than 33 minutes on the court. He was handled by the much shorter Draymond Green.

Given that the Warriors’ small-ball lineup has been successful against Ayton, he could really struggle against the right players. Ayton refused to speak, and when he did, Green’s strength bothered him. Aiton had numerous baby hooks that were nowhere near going in.

The Arizona product also didn’t look ideal for Doncic, as it was evident that he wasn’t much of a lob threat. With the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic had a ton of success throwing layups to Derek Lively, Daniel Gafford and others, but that’s not Ayton’s game. James also likes to feed his centers in a similar fashion, so things may not improve upon his return from injury.

Hayes and Christian Koloko are just another truth centers on the Lakers’ roster, and none of them have earned the trust of JJ Redick. That means the Lakers’ center problem that dogged them last year and prevented them from making a deep playoff run will continue to be an issue this season. Unless the Lakers somehow add another center to the roster, they may be wasting a James-Doncic duo that has the potential to be so special.