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65 articles
LAL • Center • #2
about 22 hours ago
Ayton was excellent during the first half, putting up 17 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers made a concerted effort to involve the 7-footer offensively. That didn’t happen as often during the second half, and while Ayton finished with a solid stat line, it could have been better. And that’s been an issue throughout the season, which has limited Ayton’s fantasy value. The Lakers end Week 18 with three games over the final four days, starting with the Suns on Thursday.
LAL • Center • #2
6 days ago
Ayton missed the Lakers’ final two games before the All-Star break with a sore right knee, opening up a spot in the starting lineup for Jaxson Hayes. Ayton’s expected return would bump Hayes to the bench, eliminating his minimal streaming value.
Source: Daniel Starkand
LAL • Center • #2
13 days ago
Ayton is set to miss his second consecutive game with right knee soreness. Jaxson Hayes got the start and had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday. Hayes will likely start again with Drew Timme backing him up as the reserve center.
LAL • Center • #2
14 days ago
Ayton was one of the starters that missed Tuesday’s game against San Antonio, but he may end up missing another game. Jaxson Hayes would likely get another start if Ayton remains out, with Drew Timme filling out the backup minutes.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center • #2
15 days ago
Ayton is officially out for Tuesday’s game, adding his name to the Lakers’ lengthy list of absentees. Jaxson Hayes will move into the starting lineup, and he’s worth streaming in this spot.
Source: Law Murray
LAL • Center • #2
15 days ago
Ayton’s sore right knee has him back on the injury report for Tuesday, the second game in as many nights for the Lakers. If he’s unable to play, Jaxson Hayes would slide into the starting lineup. Given how shorthanded the Lakers are, Hayes is worth streaming if allowed to start.
Source: Daniel Starkand
LAL • Center • #2
16 days ago
The lone change to the lineup is Ayton, who returns after sitting out Saturday’s win over the Warriors. As a result of his return, Jaxson Hayes will come off the bench. Austin Reaves is still under a limit of 25 minutes, so Hachimura remains with the starters.
Source: NBA Lineups
LAL • Center • #2
16 days ago
Ayton came into the day with a probable tag, so his availability isn’t a surprise. He’ll return following a one-game absence which should send Jaxson Hayes back to the bench. Ayton will have his work cut out for him against a jumbo Thunder frontcourt featuring Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center • #2
17 days ago
Ayton was held out of Saturday’s win over the Warriors, with the Lakers scratching him just before tipoff due to a sore right knee. If he can play against the Thunder, that will push Jaxson Hayes back to the bench.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center • #2
18 days ago
Ayton is a late scratch after he wasn’t even on the injury report. Nevertheless, he’s set to miss Saturday’s game with right knee soreness. Jaxson Hayes will start at center for the Lakers in his absence and could be worth using in deeper formats.
LAL • Center • #2
24 days ago
Ayton only attempted six shots on Sunday, but he made the most of his opportunities, knocking down all six of them. The production wasn’t on par with what he did in Friday’s win over the Wizards, but the Knicks are a far better team than Washington, so greater resistance was expected. Over the past two weeks, Ayton’s limited production outside of points and rebounds has weighed down his fantasy value. Even if he doesn’t score 28 points as he did on Saturday, doing more as a defender will help preserve Ayton’s value.
LAL • Center • #2
26 days ago
It has been a rough stretch for Ayton recently, but the Wizards didn’t have an answer for him in this game. This was Domin-Ayton at his finest. Across his five games prior to this game, he had scored a total of 33 points. He fell one point shy of matching his season high for scoring, though that hasn’t been typical for him. Ayton’s role has been inconsistent, which has contributed to his production following the same trend. He’ll look to stay hot in New York on Sunday.
LAL • Center • #2
28 days ago
The good news for Ayton and those who have him on their fantasy rosters is that he didn’t miss a shot. The bad news is that he wasn’t much of a factor otherwise, recording four rebounds and a blocked shot in addition to his 10 points. With LeBron James being 41, the Lakers need more from Ayton. And so do those who have him rostered.
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
The good news for fantasy managers is that Ayton reached double digits in rebounds for the fourth time in his last seven appearances. That should take some of the sting out of the poor shooting. Over his previous two games, Ayton has shot 6-of-21 from the field, so it may be fair to question whether the left eye injury suffered in Denver on Tuesday is still an issue. As long as Ayton can provide increased production as a rebounder, the shooting should not be too much of a problem.
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
Ayton did not return for the second half of Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets after getting poked in his left eye, resulting in more minutes for Jaxson Hayes. With Ayton absent from the injury report for Thursday, the Lakers will be able to count on their usual rotation at the center position.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
Ayton was poked in his left eye during the latter stages of the second quarter and was not on the floor to begin the third. He’s since been ruled out for the rest of the night. Jaxson Hayes has handled most of the minutes at the center position in the second half, with Drew Timme serving as the backup.
Source: Jovan Buha
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
Held out of Saturday’s loss to the Trail Blazers with a knee injury, Ayton had one of his best games of the season on Sunday. He didn’t miss a shot from the field, with the only misfire coming at the foul line, and Ayton was active as a rebounder and defender. He’s recorded three double-doubles in his last four outings, grabbing at least 13 boards in each. An engaged Ayton makes the Lakers a better basketball team and satisfies fantasy managers, too. The Lakers hit the road for an eight-game trip, with three games during Week 14.
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
The Lakers have Dončić and Ayton back in the fold after both missed Saturday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. As a result of those returns, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber will be relegated to the bench. In Kleber’s case, he may fall out of the rotation entirely.
Source: Los Angeles Lakers
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
While Ayton has missed only one game due to injury, Hayes has missed the last three. With both available for Sunday’s game, Maxi Kleber and Drew Timme will likely fall out of the rotation entirely. Ayton should be rostered in standard leagues already, but there isn’t much to gain from rostering Hayes.
Source: Daniel Starkand
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
With Jaxson Hayes already out, the Lakers could ill afford not to have their starting center available for Saturday’s game. Unfortunately, Ayton will not be able to play against the Trail Blazers. Jarred Vanderbilt may move into the starting lineup, and there will also be a need for rotation minutes from Maxi Kleber and even Drew Timme.
Source: Dan Woike
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
This is a new injury for Ayton, and the Lakers don’t have much depth at center behind him. Jaxson Hayes would likely fill the void, though his streaming appeal will be limited. Drew Timme could also fill some minutes off the bench.
Source: Dave McMenamin
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
This was Ayton’s second straight double-double, which was the first time he had consecutive double-doubles since November. He also set a new season high for boards in the win. Ayton has been an excellent source of rebounds and field goal percentage this season, though he hasn’t had much success in other categories. Still, that has been enough for him to once again be a top-100 player in category leagues. He’s had a few rough games in recent weeks, so this performance was encouraging.
LAL • Center • #2
about 1 month ago
One of the few positives for the Lakers in a game in which they allowed the Kings to shoot 59 percent from the field was the production of their centers. After totaling 13 points and nine rebounds in his previous two games, Ayton recorded his 14th double-double of the season. By comparison, he had 20 double-doubles last season. Jaxson Hayes added 12 points (5-of-6 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), five rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes off the bench. If LeBron James doesn’t play in Tuesday’s game against the Hawks, there should be more opportunities for Ayton and Hayes offensively, even if it’s just in the two-man game with Luka Dončić.
LAL • Center • #2
about 2 months ago
After Ayton put up 16 shots in Tuesday’s win over the Pelicans, fantasy managers likely hoped for a similar output on Wednesday, especially with LeBron James (toe) out. Unfortunately, he only attempted nine shots, with Jake LaRavia (13) and Luka Dončić (26) being the only Lakers to hit double digits in attempts. With James possibly returning to the lineup on Friday, fantasy managers have to hope that his presence will result in a few more opportunities for Ayton.
LAL • Center • #2
about 2 months ago
After Friday’s dud against the Grizzlies, Ayton has bounced back with two solid performances. On Tuesday, he recorded his second double-double in five games and 13th of the season. Generally speaking, when Ayton is involved in the offense early, he can be relied on for solid effort/production throughout. Fantasy managers who have him rostered will certainly root for the Lakers to feed Ayton early before Luka Dončić and LeBron James take over.
LAL • Center • #2
about 2 months ago
Coming off of one of his least productive games of the season, Ayton bounced back with a solid effort on Sunday. The Lakers did more to get him involved early on the offensive end of the floor, resulting in the 7-footer bringing the engagement that’s required of him on defense. While Ayton remains a top-75 fantasy player for the season, he has been ranked outside the top-150 over the past two weeks. Hopefully, he can build on Sunday’s performance, especially defensively.
LAL • Center • #2
2 months ago
After missing two games with a right elbow injury, Ayton was back in the starting lineup on Tuesday. He recorded his 11th double-double, and the three steals were a season-high. Providing fifth-round value in eight-cat formats, Ayton has played consistent basketball in his first season with the Lakers. Not only has his team benefited, but so have those who are rostering the 7-footer.
LAL • Center • #2
2 months ago
Ayton is set to return Tuesday against the Suns after missing two games with an elbow injury. Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt will cede minutes to Ayton upon his return. The 27-year-old center remains a reliable starter in standard formats and the Lakers have three games this week.
LAL • Center • #2
2 months ago
Ayton has missed two straight games, but it appears he’s on the right track to return on Tuesday. If Ayton is available, Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt could see their roles reduced.
Source: Dave McMenamin
LAL • Center • #2
2 months ago
Ayton will miss a second straight game with a sore right elbow. While Jaxson Hayes started Thursday’s win over the Jazz, he only played 22 minutes, with Jarred Vanderbilt logging 25 off the bench. With the Clippers having Ivica Zubac in their starting lineup, Hayes may pick up a few more minutes on Saturday.
Source: Ryan Ward