The Los Angeles Lakers traded center Deandre Ayton of Nassau, Bahamas to the Washington Wizards on Friday according to the Associated Press. In return, the Lakers are receiving shooting guard Jaden Hardy of Detroit, Michigan and two National Basketball Association draft picks. They are the second round picks in 2031 and 2032. This is the latest NBA trade where draft picks in the long term are part of the transaction.
Ayton is joining his fourth NBA franchise. He spent five seasons with the Phoenix Suns from 2018 to 2023, two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2023 to 2025, and one season with the Lakers in 2025-26.
This past season in southern California, Ayton is averaging 12.5 points per game, eight rebounds per game, and one block per game. He had a field goal percentage of .671, and free throw percentage of .645. For the first time in his NBA career, Ayton did not take a three-point shot.
Hardy is a shooting guard who has also played with multiple teams in his NBA career. He was with the Dallas Mavericks for four seasons from 2022 to 2026, and also played this past season in Washington. Hardy averaged 9.2 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game, and one assist per game. He had a field goal percentage of .424, three point percentage of .397, and free throw percentage of .733.
This is a drastically different looking Wizards team. Remember, this is a franchise that only won 17 games last season. Ayton joins Trae Young and Anthony Davis as Washington’s new faces.
