After adding Walker Kessler as their big prize of the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in an interesting position. Between him and Deandre Ayton, they suddenly had a very formidable frontcourt duo for next season. They did not want it.
It only took a few days for the Lakers to deal Ayton away. They traded their former starting center to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and a couple of second-round picks. There are a lot of ways to justify that move, but there is one thing that remains strange all the same.
Ayton's role with the Wizards will be the exact same thing as it would have been with the Lakers. The former first overall pick will serve as a backup center in Washington. If Los Angeles' concern with moving him was that last year's starter would not take a demotion to a bench role well, why is that not shared by the the franchise receiving him in this trade?
It would be all to easy to just chalk this up to the Wizards being the Wizards. However, there is more to ponder on here. It is not that the Lakers made a bad call in trading Ayton, but the decision does warrant at least some second-guessing given their backup center problem.
If Deandre Ayton will be a backup in Washington, could he not have done that in Los Angeles?
Ayton obviously arrived in Los Angeles with the expectation of being the starting center. With Kessler, that was never going to be the case anymore, apart from any games that Walker may have missed due to injury.
There is some real intrigue with envisioning Ayton as a backup. His biggest issue had been consistent effort. In shorter stints off the bench, that would be mitigated.
Through all the headaches and frustration that came with the Ayton experience, the former Lakers center still finished the 2025-26 campaign averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block. The level of production is almost surprising, given the harsh memories he evokes in Lakers fans.
Getting a chance to feast on second units could have still provided Ayton a chance to have a solid role offensively. As long as he is getting the ball on that end, DominAyton has shown willingness to play the other end, too.
In spite of all that, perhaps this just comes down to what the Lakers know and what the Wizards do not. JJ Redick, Rob Pelinka, and company had a full season around Ayton to really evaluate him. The collective may not have thought their former center had it in him to be a bench player.
The Wizards clearly thought differently when they acquired him. One way or another, one of those two franchises will be proven right.
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