Deandre Ayton is reportedly expected to exercise player option

When the Los Angeles Lakers signed center Deandre Ayton last summer following the buyout of his previous contract, there was some hope that he would raise his game and give more consistent effort and focus. While he played well at times this season, he continued to have lapses when it came to effort, energy and intensity, and as a result, most fans seem to want to move on from him.

>He has an $8.1 million player option for next season, and it is questionable whether a team would offer him more than that should he decline that option and become a free agent. Ayton is reportedly expected to exercise that option and remain with the team, according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.

"It’s no secret the Lakers are looking to upgrade at center (it should be noted Deandre Ayton is expected to pick up his player option and be back with the team)," Helin wrote.

Ayton gave Los Angeles plenty of physical defense and productive rebounding when it got past the Houston Rockets in the first round of this year's NBA playoffs. But his game regressed during the next series when L.A. got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

>During the regular season, he logged 12.5 points, eight rebounds and 8.3 shot attempts a game, and all three of those averages were career lows. With Luka Doncic reportedly wanting the Lakers to bring in an "A-list center," Ayton may not cut it.

>Dave McMenamin of ESPN said recently that Doncic's desire for a prominent center could likely mean that the team will look to trade Ayton if Ayton opts in for next season.

>This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Deandre Ayton is reportedly expected to exercise player option