Deandre Ayton’s time with the Lakers is already over. Los Angeles has agreed to send the center to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard Jaden Hardy and two future second round picks, in 2031 and 2032, according to league sources. The move comes just days after Ayton picked up his $8.1 million player option for next season, a decision that looked like it would keep him in Los Angeles heading into 2026-27.
Instead, Ayton becomes the latest piece to shift as the Lakers overhaul their frontcourt this offseason. His lone season in Los Angeles was largely a positive one. He averaged 12.5 points, 8 rebounds and a block per game while playing a career high 72 contests, and he played a meaningful role in the team’s first round playoff upset over the Houston Rockets.
Kessler’s arrival made Ayton expendable
The trade traces directly back to the Lakers’ decision to bring in center Walker Kessler through a sign and trade agreement with the Utah Jazz, locking him into a four year, $130 million deal that reportedly includes a fourth year player option and a full trade kicker. Kessler, who turns 25 later this month, appeared in just five games last season while recovering from shoulder surgery, but he has averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over his four year career.
With Kessler now the Lakers’ long term answer at center, Ayton no longer fit into the team’s plans, despite his strong individual season. Los Angeles also added forward and center Sandro Mamukelashvili on a four year, $52 million contract, further crowding the frontcourt picture and making Ayton’s departure close to inevitable.
Washington bets on low risk frontcourt depth
For the Wizards, adding Ayton is viewed internally as a low risk move, largely because only one season remains on his contract. He is expected to slot in as the primary backup at center behind Alex Sarr, with the flexibility to start if Anthony Davis misses time, something that has happened frequently across Davis’s career. Washington’s coaching staff also has familiarity with Ayton through assistant Cody Toppert, who overlapped with him during a stint on the Phoenix Suns’ staff.
The move gives Washington three former No. 1 overall picks on its roster at once, joining Davis and this year’s top selection, AJ Dybantsa. It also comes after several available free agent centers signed elsewhere, pushing Wizards officials toward a trade as the more realistic path to bolstering their frontcourt depth.
Hardy and picks head back to Los Angeles
Washington sends back Hardy, a 23 year old guard who arrived from Dallas in February’s blockbuster deal that also brought Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Wizards. Hardy averaged 12.6 points across 23 games with Washington last season and has posted 8.4 points per game over four NBA seasons, shooting 40% from three point range in that stretch.
The two second round picks give the Lakers a bit of breathing room in an asset chest that had grown thin after the picks and swaps sent to Utah in the Kessler deal. Los Angeles is continuing to reshape its roster following LeBron James’s departure, having already added guards Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, while reportedly keeping an eye on veteran centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valančiūnas and Kevon Looney for additional depth.
Ayton, who turns 28 later this month, was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Arizona. This trade sends him to his fourth team in five seasons, continuing one of the more turbulent journeys for a former top pick in recent NBA history.
