Deandre Ayton Unsure About $8.1 Million Player Option With Lakers
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The Los Angeles Lakers face several roster decisions after Monday night’s first-round playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and center Deandre Ayton sits near the top of the list. The 27-year-old owns an $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season but said he has not begun weighing that choice.
“Purple and gold, that’s about it,” Ayton told reporters when asked about his future. “I’m just honored and happy to be on this platform… I haven’t even thought about anything else, to be honest.”
Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract with Los Angeles last summer after the Portland Trail Blazers waived him. Throughout the season he provided flashes of the two-way impact the Lakers hoped for, though questions about his motor and ball security persisted.
The Bahamas native plans to lean on his representatives before deciding whether to test free agency or accept the guaranteed salary. “I trust my agents. That’s about it. I don’t really think too much about it—that’s out of my hands,” he said, adding that the organization’s coaches, fans and staff “treated me like family.”
Ayton’s choice carries implications for both sides. Opting in secures his salary but could limit him to a backup role if Los Angeles seeks a long-term starter in the middle. Declining the option would send him into a crowded market, where he might need another short-term deal to prove his value.
The league’s calendar gives Ayton until late June to finalize his decision, making his contract one of the key storylines of the Lakers’ offseason.
Source: Lakers Nation
