Detailed analysis of the two new players' debuts: Ayton scored only 1 point but showed positive signs, LaRavia acts as a glue on both ends of the court.

On October 4th Beijing time, the Lakers completed their preseason opener, falling 81-103 to the Suns. New additions LaRavia and Ayton both debuted. Lakers insider Buha provided an evaluation of their performances, as follows—

LaRavia posted 7 points and 5 rebounds in the game, including 2 offensive rebounds. His performance was exactly as expected—he acts as a “connector” on offense and serves as the team’s “glue guy.”

During the game, he repeatedly dove for loose balls, even chasing them out of bounds; aggressively pursued offensive rebounds and delivered extra passes, never forcing shots on offense. From beyond the arc, he made 1 of 2 attempts. As a skilled shooter, it would be good to see him shoot with more decisiveness. Offensively, he operated fully within his capabilities, acting like a “lubricant” and playing a key role in lateral ball movement and tactical cooperation.

On defense, he showed some impressive moments, such as his defense against Booker. LaRavia’s defense relies more on footwork and basketball IQ rather than pure physical gifts. Whether chasing screens, contesting perimeter shots, or switching onto other players, he maintained solid defensive positioning and delivered steady defense.

Of course, in matchups requiring explosive athleticism, his physical ability might be a limitation. Overall, he performed quite consistently across all facets of the game. Perhaps no single skill stood out, but as mentioned before, he is a “versatile player.” This game demonstrated that on both ends, he is a practical rotational player.

As for Ayton, he scored just 1 point on 0-for-2 shooting—one attempt was a close-range shot, the other an uncontested layup that missed. However, he collected 8 rebounds (including 2 offensive), contributed 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, but also committed 4 turnovers.

Regarding turnovers, Ayton’s career average turnovers per game actually exceed his assists. So his decision-making and ball-handling consistency are definite areas of concern. Offensively, he looked confused several times—either getting stripped by defenders or forcing dribbles through traffic, appearing somewhat out of rhythm. This can be attributed to his “rust” after time away from competition; having just returned, he has yet to find his pace, but these issues should improve over time.

Notably, he successfully drew fouls on several occasions—one in particular came when the opponent was in foul trouble, leading to free throws. These plays show he has the ability to punish defenders by exploiting mismatches.

Additionally, the Lakers still face significant issues with inbound plays and feeding the post. They need to better emphasize Ayton’s role, making him one of the offensive focal points. Reddick mentioned this before the game, but the Lakers did not execute it well tonight. This remains an area for improvement moving forward.

There is actually little cause for concern about Ayton’s offense. He has a history of averaging 15-16 points per game, proving his capability. Moreover, this was only the preseason opener, with the team missing Doncic and James—especially Doncic, whose presence could likely elevate Ayton’s performance to another level. Clearly, the chemistry between Ayton and Reeves is still developing.

On the positive side, Ayton was involved in nearly every offensive set: whether running high pick-and-rolls with Reeves, participating in “stack” plays, or executing “horn” sets, he consistently set screens near the elbow or top of the key and was highly engaged, which is a promising sign.

Although his timing finishing after pick-and-roll rolls needs refinement, overall Ayton’s finishing efficiency and turnover concerns seem more like “warning signs” rather than long-term problems. The turnover issue may persist (especially compared to his assist numbers), but he is expected to improve his offensive output moving forward.

It is clear that his rebounding contributions (compared to Hayes) are visibly significant; plus his ability to hold position in the post, threat in pick-and-roll rolls, aggressive cuts to the basket, and box-out skills should all greatly benefit the Lakers’ offense.