The Los Angeles Lakers have had a strong start to the offseason so far. After a lucrative new extension for Austin Reaves, they struck deals for Cameron Carr, AK Okereke, Peter Suder, and Chase Ross to build up their ascending young core.
Still, the work has only just begun for the Lake Show, and Luka Doncic is expecting even more activity in the weeks and months ahead. More than any position, Doncic wants the Lakers to address the center spot, and it puts Deandre Ayton in an awkward position.
“[Luka Doncic’s] feedback to the Lakers’ front office was ‘get me an A-List center, I need that to compete.’ Luka’s camp was also told to ‘wait until the summer of 2026,’ then we’re gonna show you what we mean for the future, and your future, as the face of our franchise,” reported Dave McMenamin on NBA Today. “Thus far, people would say it was a good draft night, and you re-sign Austin. But there’s so much work to be done with this roster, starting with the center position. We don’t know if Deandre Ayton’s gonna opt in to his deal, and if he does, that means Rob Pelinka needs to find a trade partner for Ayton.”
Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract with the Lakers last summer, hoping to become their new permanent big man. But after an up-and-down season, where he was often unplayable in the clutch, Ayton failed to convince Luka Doncic that he’s a viable go-to option at center. In fact, Doncic is putting more pressure than ever on the Lakers to make upgrades to the frontcourt.
Even with season averages of 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 67.1% shooting from the field, Ayton is just not going to cut it, and what happens next depends on his choices this summer. If he opts out of his deal, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, with the freedom to choose his next destination. It’s unknown what teams would pursue the former No. 1 overall pick, but the Lakers would surely not be among them if they have alternative options.
If Ayton opts in to the deal, the Lakers would immediately seek trade partners, but finding one may be easier said than done. At 27, Ayton is at the age where he can fit into any timeline, but his history is riddled with underwhelming play that has compromised his value as a player. On the Lakers, his work ethic and effort were frequently questioned, leading to constant scrutiny and doubt.
Still, as a former No. 1 pick with All-Star potential, there would be interest in Ayton from teams like the Clippers, Raptors, and Grizzlies, who need help in the frontcourt. It’s also possible that Ayton is included in a larger trade to drastically shake up the supporting cast.
Whatever the case, the Lakers are clearly not sold on Deandre Ayton, and they are hoping to have another starting center for the 2026-27 season. Who that player might be is anyone’s guess, but several names have emerged, including Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, and Robert Williams III.
