With LeBron James leaving successful escaped agency, the Los Angeles Lakers are prioritizing franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić.
Dončić notably requested an “A-list center,” and it seems the purple and golden landed that by acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz.
Oct 16, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz halfway Walker Kessler (24) smiles aft making a large play during the archetypal fractional against the Portland Trail Blazers astatine Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images
In the process, Lakers backup halfway Jaxson Hayes near successful escaped agency — coincidentally, to the Jazz — meaning the sometimes frustrating Deandre Ayton would apt capable the backup halfway spot.
But connected Friday morning, the Lakers made different determination that’s raising roster questions.
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Lakers woody Deandre Ayton for guard
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that Ayton is leaving the purple and golden arsenic well.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and 2 Wizards second-round picks successful 2031 and 2032, sources archer ESPN,” helium reported connected societal media.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers halfway Deandre Ayton (5) reacts connected the tribunal aft a three-point handbasket by defender Marcus Smart (36) successful the archetypal fractional of crippled 2 of the archetypal circular of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets astatine Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
While the picks are surely adjuvant fixed the haul the Lakers gave up for Kessler, Hardy is simply a guard, and the biggest subordinate the Lakers person added different is Sandro Mamukelashvili, a 6-foot-9 guardant formerly with the Toronto Raptors.
Given that, it seems the Lakers are inactive successful pursuit of different center, and 1 seasoned has already been linked to the team.
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Lakers could spell aft Andre Drummond
Dan Woike of The Athletic asked executives with different teams astir who would acceptable the purple and gold, and 1 sanction that popped up was that of Andre Drummond.
“A sanction that’s travel up erstwhile talking to rival teams astir a subordinate who would acceptable the Lakers’ existent roster has been Andre Drummond. Interesting to spot however the Lakers navigate the back-up halfway spot,” helium wrote connected societal media.
Drummond, who astir precocious played with the Philadelphia 76ers, has the size and skills to marque an contiguous interaction astatine backup halfway astatine 6-foot-11 and 280 pounds.
Would you privation to spot Andre Drummond connected the Lakers, oregon is determination different large antheral you’d similar to spot them pursue?
The station Lakers Trade Deandre Ayton, Creating Big Man Questions appeared archetypal connected LA Sports Report.
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