The Lakers are trading Ayton to the Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Ayton's departure was imminent following the addition of Walker Kessler. In Washington, Ayton figures to be the primary backup to Alex Sarr, filling the void left by the departure of Marvin Bagley. Ayton doesn't seem like an appealing fantasy option on his new team, as he needs a lot of volume and minutes to be worthwhile in standard formats.
Ayton exercised his $8.1 million player option Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
This isn't a huge surprise, but it doesn't mean the Lakers won't try to flip him later on. During his debut season with the Lakers, he made 72 regular-season appearances with averages of 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks on 67.1 percent shooting from the field. As things stand heading into free agency, Ayton is penciled in as the starting center.
Ayton logged six points (3-3 FG), three rebounds and one assist over 21 minutes during Monday's 115-110 loss to the Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
This was a disappointing end to Ayton's first season in Los Angeles. As for the regular season, Ayton logged 72 appearances as the starting center, posting averages of 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.6 steals on 67.1 percent shooting from the field. The big man will be heading into the final year of his contract in 2026-27.
Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-double in Game 1 loss
Rotowire
Ayton ended Tuesday's 108-90 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals with 10 points (5-12 FG), 12 rebounds, two assists and one block over 27 minutes.
The double-double was his fourth of the postseason in seven games. Ayton has been making an impact on the glass for the Lakers, averaging 11.6 points, 11.0 boards, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks during the playoffs while shooting 56.9 percent from the floor.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Dominates glass in Game 6 win
Rotowire
Ayton supplied seven points (2-6 FG, 3-7 FT), 16 rebounds, one assist and one block across 28 minutes during Friday's 98-78 victory over Houston in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Only three Lakers players -- LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves -- scored in double digits during Friday's victory, but Ayton produced in his own way by grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds, one less than his playoff high in Game 5 on Wednesday. Ayton has logged at least 10 rebounds in each of his last three games and will finish the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs having averaged 11.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks over 31.0 minutes. Next up for the Lakers is a conference semifinal matchup against the top-seeded Thunder, and Ayton will have his hands full guarding Chet Holmgren.
Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Big double-double in Game 5 loss
Rotowire
Ayton registered 18 points (9-14 FG), 17 rebounds and two blocks in 38 minutes during Wednesday's 99-93 loss to Houston in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The 17 boards were a series and season high for Ayton, and represented his best performance on the glass since Feb. 3 of last season, when he ripped down 20 rebounds for Portland in a win over Phoenix. Ayton has three double-doubles in five first-round games, averaging 12.8 points, 9.8 boards, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks for the series while shooting 63.8 percent from the floor, and he'll look to come up big again in Game 6 on Friday.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Ejected Sunday
Rotowire
Ayton has been ejected from Sunday's Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Rockets, Khobi Price of The California Post reports.
Ayton was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for a hit to the head while guarding Alperen Sengun. He concludes the contest with 19 points (9-12 FG, 1-1 FT) and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Jaxson Hayes figures to see more time with Ayton out.
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