Facing a critical need to strengthen their center position, the Golden State Warriors considered Deandre Ayton after he was bought out last offseason by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, they ultimately prioritized signing veteran center Al Horford, a decision that looks increasingly wise given Ayton’s recent struggles with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors’ confidence in Horford has only grown stronger amid reports exposing Ayton’s difficulties in his current role.
Details Emerge on Deandre Ayton’s Challenging Tenure with the Lakers
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin released a revealing report on Thursday that highlighted both the odd and frustrating aspects of Ayton’s tenure with the Lakers since signing a two-year, $16.2 million deal. Among the anecdotes was one about the team’s effort to motivate Ayton, whose energy and consistency have long been questioned. According to the report, the training staff creatively taped Ayton’s water bottle with the phrase
“
DA’s Crunk Juice — Drink this to unleash the beast
”
before games, reflecting concerns about his competitive drive.
Ayton’s own comments after a narrow loss to the Orlando Magic reflected his mounting frustration with his role on the team. While the box score shows a respectable 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 66.7% shooting, the Lakers’ overall performance declines when Ayton is on the court, casting doubt on whether he or Jaxson Hayes should be the franchise’s primary big man.
Horford’s Steady Contributions Highlighted Amid Warriors’ Challenges
In contrast, Al Horford overcame an early back injury to deliver a quietly effective presence for the Warriors. Since returning on Christmas Day, the 39-year-old veteran has posted averages of 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting over 38% from three-point range. More importantly, Golden State has outscored opponents by 73 points during his time on the floor, underscoring his positive impact.
Unfortunately, Horford’s growing role coincides with Jimmy Butler’s season-ending injury, likely limiting the Warriors’ playoff ambitions this year. Horford holds a player option for next season, offering hope that the team can build on his presence once Butler returns.
Ayton’s Latest Performances Fail to Impress
The recent report did little to spark Ayton’s performance, with him scoring only two points and grabbing four rebounds while posting a minus-24 rating in under 23 minutes during a 113-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The contrast between Ayton’s struggles and Horford’s steady contributions has made the Warriors even more appreciative of their veteran center’s presence.
Deandre Ayton expressed his frustration with his role in LA after the Lakers’ loss vs. the Magic 😳 pic.twitter.com/D5BXsDSuzW
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 26, 2026
