One of the LA Lakers’ most notable offseason moves was signing free-agent center Deandre Ayton, addressing their need for a reliable big man to complement Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the frontcourt.Although the Lakers have yet to showcase a fully healthy roster, with both Doncic and James sitting out the preseason, Ayton has made it clear he’s thrilled to be part of the team.In an interview posted by the NBA on Instagram on Sunday, Ayton, who signed a two-year, $16.2 million deal with the Lakers this offseason, shared that he’s embracing the grind and enjoying the process. View this post on Instagram Instagram Post“I'm just happy we could prepare before the season,” he said of the preseason. “Lakers basketball do not play. I tell you that. I'm learning a lot. We're in the gym every day. It's extreme.“And I'm just waking up every day with a smile on my face, ready to work, man.”Ayton followed up his comments with his best preseason performance yet, tallying 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 26 minutes during a 126-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors.Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 21 points, while Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht chipped in 16 each.What will Deandre Ayton’s role be in the Lakers’ offense?On Friday, Lakers coach JJ Redick appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio to discuss his expectations for Ayton’s role heading into the 2025-26 season—a campaign in which the Lakers, now with a full season of James and Doncic together, are aiming to contend for a championship.While the Lakers’ offense will naturally flow through their two star playmakers, Redick emphasized that Ayton will still get his opportunities.“It’s important for him to touch the basketball, because we’re going to ask a lot of him as a screener and a rim runner and the anchor of our defense,” Redick said. “So there has to be some level of freedom.“For all our bigs, their ability to put pressure on the rim as a runner and as a lob threat is really important. And with Deandre, he gives us something that we didn’t have last year post-trade, and we’ve seen it in practice: He historically has been great at punishing smaller defenders at the front of the rim.”Ayton now anchors the Lakers’ frontcourt, joined by backup center Jaxson Hayes, who stepped into a larger role last season following the Anthony Davis-for-Doncic trade.