Lakers Cut Ties With 28-Year-Old Starter After Troubles ‘Managing His Personality’

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Lakers Cut Ties With 28-Year-Old Starter After Troubles ‘Managing His Personality’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during warmups before the team's preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty

Adel Ahmad · HEAVY

Fri, Oct 16, 2026 ·

4 min read

Why Did Lakers Move on From Ayton?

Los Angeles Lakers, Walker Kessler, Lakers Deandre Ayton trade pleasant surprise, Lakers trade idea, PJ Washington

GettyPORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 03: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on November 03, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Ayton may have frustrated many Lakers fans, but the former No. 1 overall pick still averaged a rock-solid 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 67.1 percent from the floor in 72 appearances last season. If anything, that is adequate production from a role-playing starter. So, why didn't the Lakers hang on to Ayton as the back up to new star center Walker Kessler?

"This is going to sound like a knock on Ayton, and I don't mean for that to be the case. But managing him and his personality, keeping him focused and content and trying to get him to mold his game into the role the Lakers needed took a lot of time and energy," wrote The Athletic's Dan Woike in a recent Reddit Q&A . "I think the team would've moved forward with him as the backup after they got the Kessler deal done (not a guarantee at the start of the summer), but a chance to pickup some picks was too good to pass up, even if it (was) downgrading backup C."

It appears that the Lakers saw value in the draft picks the Wizards were offering. That makes some sense considering how much the Lakers surrendered to acquire Kessler — two first round picks and a pair of pick swaps — but some will contend that dealing Ayton was a mistake, especially if L.A. is unable to land another quality big man between now and the midseason trade deadline.

L.A. Didn't See the Ayton Deal Coming

Perhaps the Lakers were expecting to enter the 2026-27 season with Ayton on the roster, considering the 28-year-old big man had picked up his player-option before the start of free agency. But once they realized they could put back some assets in their war chest, they happily traded Ayton.

"I ran this by a rival NBA executive, who spoke under condition of anonymity so they could speak freely about another team's roster, who felt this was too far down the list," Woike wrote in an article. "On the surface, the move was a big win for a Lakers team that was looking for outs after Ayton picked up his player option. Whether or not Hardy matters this season, the draft capital brought in was a pleasant surprise for the Lakers' front office."

Ironically, the player the Lakers had trouble managing plays the position where they now need the most help.

This article was originally published on HEAVY