The Los Angeles Lakers have a big problem in the paint—and one NBA analyst believes the solution is wearing a different uniform.

Deandre Ayton's first season in purple and gold didn't go according to plan. Signed last offseason to be the consistent two-way presence the Lakers desperately needed, the former No. 1 pick instead delivered erratic play and questionable effort. For a franchise built on championship expectations, that simply won't cut it.

Now, with the Lakers' playoff hopes hanging in the balance, one writer is calling for a bold change.

Colin Keane of Lake Show Life argues the Lakers should swap Ayton for Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein—a 28-year-old NBA champion who just helped OKC hang a banner last season.

"Hartenstein is the type of player the Lakers badly need," Keane wrote. "He broke out with the New York Knicks and has only continued to prove his value in Oklahoma City."

The contrast between the two big men couldn't be starker. While Ayton sees himself as an offensive focal point—even on a team featuring LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves—Hartenstein does the dirty work without complaint. He rebounds, defends, and plays with an urgency that Ayton has consistently lacked.

The numbers from their Western Conference Semifinals matchup tell the story. Hartenstein averaged 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and shot an incredible 80% from the field against the Lakers. Ayton? Just 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and a disappointing 45.2% shooting.

Hartenstein may not have Ayton's offensive polish, but he brings something arguably more valuable: reliability. If the Thunder decline his team option and Ayton opts out of his player option this summer, the Lakers could have a clear path to upgrading their frontline with a proven winner.