Luka Doncic desperately needs Deandre Ayton to embrace the Mavericks' old formula

Reveling in Luka Doncic's greatness is nothing new for Dallas Mavericks fans. In just seven seasons, Dončić already ranks top six in franchise history in points, rebounds, and assists. Because of that, Mavericks fans will likely always root for Dončić to succeed, no matter what jersey he wears. And amid an underwhelming season for him and the Lakers, it's not hard to pick apart how his team could better support him moving forward.

For starters, a glaring omission is Deandre Ayton's role. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick, coincidentally from the same draft class as Doncic, is averaging career lows across the board at just 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. But the bigger concern isn't simply the decline in production; it's Ayton's continued inability to embrace the role that would best benefit his team.

Deandre Ayton's role dilemma in Los Angeles

Following a throwback 21-point, 13-rebound performance against the Orlando Magic on February 24, Ayton shouted, "They're trying to make me Clint Capela. I'm not no Clint Capela!" He was referring to Capela's low-usage role as a rim-running, play-finishing center. That's not how Ayton sees himself.

Yet on a team featuring Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, Ayton may be best served embracing Capela's style of play. In eight NBA seasons, Ayton has posted a usage rate below 20 percent just three times (including this year). Capela, meanwhile, has never had a season with a usage rate above 20 percent.

The 27-year-old big man clearly believes in himself, and that confidence matters at the highest level. But basketball is still a team game, and playing alongside Doncic, James, and Reaves requires Ayton to embrace a specific role, especially with all three ranking among the NBA's top 25 in usage rate, including Doncic at No. 1.

The blueprint Luka Doncic already proved works

From a Mavericks perspective, it's easy to see the role Ayton must embrace to best help the 37–24 Lakers ahead of the postseason. It's the same one Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford thrived in—serving as Doncic's rim-running pick-and-roll partners during Dallas' run to the NBA Finals.

Lively II averaged 8.8 points per game on a 12.6 usage rate, while Gafford posted 11.2 points on a 16.4 percent usage rate. As a rookie, Lively II's modest role made sense. Gafford, meanwhile, produced numbers comparable to Ayton's this season, but did so while averaging more blocks, finishing more dunks, and shooting a higher percentage from the field.

Ayton becoming a Gafford-like player wouldn't take much. He's a vertically explosive athlete who rebounds well and finishes everything around the rim. But the difference ultimately comes down to mindset. For the Lakers to truly prosper, a team-first, or even Gafford-like, mindset is one Ayton must be willing to embrace.

After all, Ayton's dismissive outburst about Capela's role came after a 110–109 loss, not a win. Since then, the Arizona product has scored 2, 4, 12, and 13 points. The Lakers have gone 3–1 in that span, but they'll still need more from Ayton moving forward. Los Angeles' postseason opponents won't be a Stephen Curry-less Warriors squad, the Sacramento Kings, or the New Orleans Pelicans. Even with Doncic leading the way, championship-level teams rely on complementary basketball, and Ayton is central to that formula.