Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton is reportedly poised to opt into the final year of his contract, an $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season, according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.
Ayton, 28, joined the Lakers last summer on a two-year, $16.2 million deal after the Portland Trail Blazers bought out his contract. His first campaign in Los Angeles featured 72 regular-season appearances in which he averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 block while shooting 67.1 percent from the field.
Opting in secures Ayton’s salary for next season but also reduces the Lakers’ available cap space by roughly $8 million. The decision is viewed as logical, as league executives reportedly believe Ayton would have struggled to command a similar figure in free agency amid limited leaguewide cap room.
With Ayton under contract, Los Angeles can proceed with offseason planning. The veteran center could open the 2026-27 season in either a starting or reserve role, and his expiring contract now qualifies as potential salary ballast in trade discussions.
Following the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit, Ayton praised head coach JJ Redick and his staff for their support. “He’s really proud of the group,” Ayton said. “He showed in the media that he had my back as well. He’s a really good coach and I was just really honored to be coached by him and his staff.”
The Lakers’ roster strategy for next season is expected to crystallize as free agency and trade windows open, but barring further moves, Ayton is slated to remain in purple and gold for at least one more year.
Source: LakersNation.com
