Rumors

LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes are in the final year of their contracts. Austin Reaves has a player option for next season, but he’s expected to see what he can earn in free agency. The Lakers can offer him the most — up to five years and $241 million. Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player options. When a team is going through some struggles — much like the Lakers, who are just 7-8 since Reaves went down with a calf injury on Christmas — playing time and points can become major issues for players looking for new contracts. “I’ve been here for four seasons now and every year it’s almost the same but it’s different,” Rui Hachimura said. “You have to survive too, so I get it, I understand it. I think we talked about before the season winning is going to help. So, we got to focus on that and everything is going to come out.”

Los Angeles Times

MrBuckBuck: Deandre Ayton masquerades as Slick Rick after getting poked in the eye and exiting early during the Lakers’ win over the Nuggets.

x.com

With 25 points on 10-for-10 shooting with 13 rebounds, Deandre Ayton became the first player this season to record at least 20 points on perfect shooting with at least 10 field goal attempts. After marveling at the Lakers’ championship tradition when he signed as a free agent this summer, the former No. 1 pick made his mark in the franchise record book as just the third Laker to shoot perfectly from the field on 10 or more attempts with at least 10 rebounds. The others are Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 20, 1981). “That’s a thing I never even thought I would be a part of,” said Ayton, who also had zero turnovers. “I’m definitely honored and appreciative, but I love this game, so hopefully I get more of those.”

Los Angeles Times

The Lakers (25-16) are clinging to a top-six playoff spot at the midpoint of the season despite playing 19 different starting lineups in the first 41 games. With guard Luka Doncic and centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes back in the lineup after they were sidelined against Portland on Saturday, the Lakers notched their first win over a team with a winning record since Dec. 14. “We’re staying together,” Ayton said. “There’s times where we’ve had some slump moments, but guys in here, we’re cool, we’re tight. … It’s a process and I feel like tonight is another step in the right direction.”

Los Angeles Times

Ayton, who missed Saturday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers because of left knee soreness, returned Sunday and scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and zero turnovers while going 10-for-10 from the field. He became the first player in team history to score 25 or more points on 100% shooting with zero turnovers in a game since individual turnovers became official in 1977-78, according to ESPN Research. "That's pretty cool," said Ayton, who also had a game in December against Philadelphia when he went 7-for-7. "I definitely give it up to my teammates. They find me in the most easiest spots ever, and I got some easy ones tonight, for sure."

ESPN

Dave McMenamin: Lakers injury report for tonight vs. TOR: LeBron and Luka questionable; Ayton and Hayes off the injury report; LaRavia and Smart both available after getting dinged up last night

x.com

Mike Trudell: JJ Redick said the MRI was good on Luka Dončić (groin), and that his missing tonight’s game was more an accumulation of his playing 3 games in the previous 4 nights. He’s day-to-day moving forward. Ayton (knee) is also day-to-day.

Twitter

Dan Woike: No Luka Dončić Saturday in Portland because of left groin soreness. Also, the Lakers two centers, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, are both questionable

x.com

As they are navigating through a challenging season already, Michael Malone is wary of added distractions in the Lakers due to Redick's public comments. "Every coach does it differently, but I’m a firm believer in having a lot of those conversations one-on-one in the locker room, in front of your team, you call guys out," the former Denver Nuggets head coach said on ESPN's NBA Countdown. "I know for myself, going into every season, you want to eliminate as many distractions as possible. "Winning is hard in the NBA. When you have JJ calling out his players, LeBron talking about not having the ball enough, Deandre Ayton talking about not having the ball enough, there’s a lot of noise around this team right now."

BasketNews

Dave McMenamin: The Lakers came back to win in Nola, 111-103, for their third straight victory. LeBron 30 pts 8 reb 8 ast 2 stl; Luka 30 pts 10 ast 2 reb 2 stl; Ayton 18 pts 11 reb 3 ast; Smart 13 pts 6 reb 4 ast. LAL heads to San Antonio tomorrow for 2nd night of b2b.

x.com

"He was great throughout the game," Redick said of Ayton. "I think that was good for him to just touch the basketball and feel like he's part of the offense. It's a tale as old as time for a big guy. That's the reality of being a big: Someone has to pass you the ball. You're not initiating the offense."

ESPN

Dave McMenamin: “I think he’s frustrated. He doesn’t feel like he’s getting the ball.” - JJ Redick on Deandre Ayton’s recent performances. Redick said that it’s “human nature” for Ayton’s rebounding production to dip if he doesn’t feel involved. Said LAL will work to get Ayton early touches.

x.com

Dave McMenamin: Deandre Ayton threw his first lob to LeBron James of the season against Sacramento and he’s still hyped about it a couple days later.

x.com

Your coach told us it would be planned for it to be a bad day. He said it' be an uncomfortable day for the team. Deandre Ayton: And y'all bought into that. Q. We just listen to believe. Ayton: I’m not going to tell y'all. I'm not saying anything.

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