Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Situation May Have Just Become Clearer

Apr 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) moves the ball against the Houston Rockets during the first half in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Situation May Have Just Become Clearer

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Ryan Ward | Last updated Jun 27, 2026 8:30 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Los Angeles Lakers will be incredibly busy this summer, with more than half of the team’s roster either hitting NBA free agency or having the opportunity to test the open market.

Veteran center Deandre Ayton is one of the players on the squad who has a player option ($8.1 million) for the 2026-27 NBA season. It’s been uncertain throughout the offseason what Ayton intends to do, but it may have just become clear.

Deandre Ayton Expected ot Pick Up Player Option

According to Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, Ayton is expected to pick up his player option for next season, even though the Lakers are actively pursuing an upgrade at the center position this summer.

It’s no secret the Lakers are looking to upgrade at center (it should be noted Deandre Ayton is expected to pick up his player option and be back with the team). Mitchell Robinson is the kind of big man they could use, but his health concerns — particularly his chronic ankle issues — will give the Lakers and every team some pause.

Despite Ayton’s intention to opt into his deal for the 2026-27 campaign, the Lakers could trade him ahead of next season.

The Lakers’ top priority right now is bringing in an A-list center at the request of superstar guard Luka Doncic. Longtime general manager Rob Pelinka and the new-look front office are doing everything within their power to appease Doncic.

Lakers Still Searching for an A-List Center

Los Angeles is so determined to find an upgrade at center that LeBron James’ future with the team has been put in doubt, as he is not the team’s top priority at the moment.

However, there aren’t a ton of options available to the Lakers to land the kind of center upgrade that they want. There are some intriguing ones, like restricted free agents Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren, but it won’t be easy to land either player, with the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons expected to match any offer sheet signed.

Other options include unrestricted free agents like Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams III, Nikola Vucevic, Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, Nick Richards, Kevin Love and Andre Drummond.

Obviously, none of these unrestricted free agents are considered “A-list” centers, but there are some that could be intriguing fits in Los Angeles, namely Robinson and Williams.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram for the latest news.