Ayton Stays But Lakers Plan Big Move | NBA News

Deandre Ayton is sticking around for the 2026-27 season by opting into his player option, but his future with the Lakers is far from secure. With over $50M in cap space and Luka Doncic pushing for a top-tier center, the Lakers may trade Ayton to clear room or acquire a bigger upgrade. Names like Kessler and Duren are in play, and a sign-and-trade is unlikely — Ayton could be part of a deal to reshape the roster. Don’t count him out yet. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3fc7d5b5dfe431cd