The Ayton trade was reported on July 3, two days after it was reported the Lakers traded unprotected first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Walker Kessler, who they then signed to a four-year, $130 million contract.

The news of Deandre Ayton exercising his $8.1 player option for the 2026-27 season to stay with the Lakers wasn't surprising. Even with him outplaying the $8.1 salary he made from the Lakers in 2025-26 (he gave up $10 million of his $35.6 million contract ...

Deandre Ayton is being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke with The Associated Press. The Lakers have agreed to send Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy and second-round ...

Jonathan Kuminga’s fit comes with questions, but his youth and upside make him a risk the Lakers should be willing to take. The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking to add at a position. In this deal, they trade Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia, and Jarred ...

The Lakers just got rid of a large problem. It was 7-feet tall. It weighed 250 pounds. And it was a glaring distraction in the locker room. So long, Deandre Ayton, whom the Lakers sent to the Wizards on Friday in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two future ...

Walker Kessler is going to revive the toughness in the middle for the Los Angeles Lakers.