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Lakers trade grade for Deandre Ayton-Jaden Hardy swap with Wizards
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- Lakers trade grade for Deandre Ayton-Jaden Hardy swap with Wizards
Lakers trade grade for Deandre Ayton-Jaden Hardy swap with Wizards appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Los Angeles Lakers ' splashy offseason continued on Friday as the team was in the process of finalizing a trade with the Washington Wizards involving Deandre Ayton in exchange for Jaden Hardy . In addition to Hardy, the Lakers also acquired two second round picks.
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Prior to the trade, Deandre Ayton had picked up his player option with the Lakers, a move that was not unexpected. However, with the Lakers' addition of Walker Kessler , Ayton was going to be coming off the bench this upcoming season if he remained with the team.
It was always a possibility that the Lakers looked to move Ayton in a trade, and they did just that, a couple of days after a busy free agent spending spree. Here's a quick breakdown, and a final grade for the trade.
Lakers trade Deandre Ayton for Jaden Hardy , picks
It's obvious that the main focus for the Lakers regarding this trade was to acquire a little more draft capital. Following the Kessler sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz , the Lakers were left with a bare cupboard when it came to picks . Even second round picks, in today's CBA landscape, are increasingly valuable.
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While the Lakers don't have much control over their first round picks until 2032, picking up a few second rounders present an opportunity to identify underrated talent that slipped in the draft. Just this past draft, the Lakers were trying to position themselves to grab Henri Veesaar in the second round before the Atlanta Hawks beat them to the punch. Last offseason, they got Adou Thiero in the second round, a first round talent whom they are high on in terms of potential.
Just the two picks alone make this trade a success for the Lakers, with one caveat. They need to sign a backup big man to replace Ayton. With Jaxson Hayes gone to the Jazz, the team will have to turn to the remaining free agent centers for a replacement.
Luckily for them, there are some solid options remaining. Names like Kevon Looney , Andre Drummond and Nick Richards figure to be in the mix for the Lakers. Any one of them at a minimum contract would be a solid pickup for the second unit. Should the organization land one of the aforementioned free agents, that would leave no doubt that this deal was a success.
As far as the player aspect of the trade, Hardy probably doesn't factor much into the Lakers plans. He has two potential years remaining on his current contract, but a team option for the 2027-28 season making him a possible trade option for a team looking to clear salary.
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He actually had a productive string of games after being acquired by the Wizards in the Anthony Davis trade with the Dallas Mavericks last deadline. He appeared in 23 games at a little over 20 minutes per game while averaging a career-high 12.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He shot 44.3 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line and 68.6 percent from the free-throw line.
He isn't a bad option for a little bit of wing depth, but he has his limitations defensively. He can score the ball, but Thiero and rookie Cameron Carr should be prioritized in the wing rotation.
Following the trade, the Lakers' roster stands at 13. Provided they add a backup center at the minimum, that would be 14 players. Barring any unforeseen major move, this is likely the team's final roster heading into opening night of the 2026-27 season.
Final Grade: B+
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Related: Wizards swing massive Deandre Ayton trade with Lakers
