Lakers Trade Deandre Ayton To Surprising Destination

The blockbuster addition of Walker Kessler this week has made Deandre Ayton completely superfluous in LA, leading to today's move in which the Lakers shipped Ayton to the Washington Wizards. 

Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bAEtSFpTNi

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2026

In return, LA gets Jaden Hardy and two Wizards' second-round picks.

Ayton, the former first overall pick in the NBA Draft (2018) has never quite lived up to that billing, and his performance with the Lakers this past season was the worst of his career. Coming into the campaign with a career 16 ppg and 10 rebounds mark, Ayton went for 12.5 ppg and 8.0 boards. As usual, he never seemed happy in his environment. 

He won't be too thrilled at taking a backseat in DC, either. Burgeoning 7-foot star Alex Sarr is set to be the center of the future in Washington, so Ayton will be nothing more than a backup for him. 

The Lakers will now look for a proper backup center to play behind Kessler, who they obtained from the Jazz in a blockbuster sign-and-trade this week.