Lakers reportedly trading Deandre Ayton to Wizards for Jaden Hardy, 2 second-round picks

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two future second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday.

Ayton is being traded just days after he picked up his $8.1 million player option for the upcoming season. The 7-footer averaged 12.5 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block per game in his lone season with the Lakers, playing a career-high 72 games. He originally signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract that included his player option for the 2026-27 season.

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However, the eight-year veteran became expendable after the Lakers acquired center Walker Kessler and inked him to a four-year, $130 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, the Lakers added free-agent forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili, signing him to a four-year, $52 million contract.

This breaking news story will be updated.