Deandre Ayton #5 reacts after a basket by Nick Smith Jr. #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Novembe

Ayton and Smart represented the kind of boom or bust risks that a team like the Lakers needed to take. It paid off against the Rockets.

Ayton, who averaged 14.3 rebounds and 5.0 offensive rebounds across the final three games of the first round against the Houston Rockets, could be the X-Factor for the Lakers against the defending-champion Thunder.

James and Reaves aren’t the only Lakers player facing uncertain futures, though. The Lakers have several other guys headed for free agency and a couple of others with player options for next season that they could turn down in favor of free agency,

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart credited Deandre Ayton for leading the way defensively against the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated the Houston Rockets in a thrilling first-round playoff series, clinching a 4-2 victory. Following the series, discussions have surged about the Lakers’ “Old Team” narrative.

Lakers big man Deandre Ayton had to use this mentality in order to help the team beat the Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Los Angeles Lakers twice in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Thunder won those two games by an average of 39.5 points per game. But heading into Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series Tuesday in Oklahoma City,