The Washington Wizards added another big man on Friday, acquiring center Deandre Ayton from the Los Angeles Lakers for Jaden Hardy and a pair of second-round picks, one in 2031 and one in 2032.
Ayton, who turns 28 this month, exercised his $8.1 million player option for 2026-27 on Monday, ideally to stay in L.A., but the Lakers agreed to a sign-and-trade deal to land Utah’s Walker Kessler on Wednesday, complicating Ayton’s role.
Ayton gave up $10 million to be bought out by the Blazers last summer, and joined the Lakers on a two-year deal with the option for 2026-27. In what will now be his lone season in L.A., he averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 72 games, shooting 67.1 percent from the floor.
Now, he joins a frontcourt group in DC where Anthony Davis is hoped to have a big role and third-year man Alex Sarr, who had foot surgery last month, continues to develop.
Hardy, 23, was traded to Washington in the Davis deal last season and played 23 games for the Wizards, averaging 12.6 points per game. He is a former teammate of Luka Doncic in Dallas, as well, and has two years remaining on his deal at $6 million per, so it saves the Lakers $2.1 million from Ayton’s deal.
Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Ayton could be acquired into the $13.4 million trade exception the Wizards received for dealing Kelly Olynyk last summer – which expires on July 9 – and if so, the transaction would create a new trade exception worth $6 million (Hardy’s salary).
Washington sending Jaden Hardy and two future second-rounders to L.A.
Washington sending Jaden Hardy and two future second-rounders to L.A.
