The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Ayton served as the Lakers’ starting center last season and recently exercised his $8.1-million player option for 2026-27.
However, Los Angeles later made a big splash in free agency with its acquisition of big man Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers are now focusing on finding a backup for Kessler, with Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas, and Kevon Looney among those in consideration, adds Charania.
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