Sources: Lakers trading Ayton to Wizards for Hardy, future picks
The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.
L.A., which agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz for center Walker Kessler earlier this week, will search for a backup big man on the market.Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney are among those being considered, sources told Charania.
The two second-round picks will help replenish the Lakers' long-term draft assets after the team parted with two future first-round picks and two future pick swaps in the Kessler deal.
Washington will add Ayton to a big-man rotation featuring Alex Sarr, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, and Anthony Davis, a 10-time All-Star. Sarr had surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot last month, and Ayton's presence will provide insurance for Washington's front line while Sarr recovers.
Ayton joined L.A. after securing a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers last summer. He played 72 games, starting all of them, and averaged 12.5 points on 67.1% shooting and 8.0 rebounds. He had a major impact on the Lakers' first-round postseason victory over the Houston Rockets, averaging 11.8 points on 60.4% shooting, 10.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in six games, but he was less effective in the second round when L.A. was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder (7.3 points on 45.2% shooting, 7.8 rebounds).
Washington could acquire Ayton into its $13.4 million Kelly Olynyk trade exception, which expires July 9, according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks. If the Wizards do that, they will create a new $6 million exception.
Hardy, 23, a former teammate of Luka Doncic's in Dallas, averaged 12.6 points on 44.3% shooting (42% from 3), 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23 games after being traded to Washington last season. He has two years and $12 million remaining on his contract, with a team option for 2027-28.br/]
