The news of Deandre Ayton exercising his $8.1 player option for the 2026-27 season to stay with the Lakers wasn’t surprising.
Even with him outplaying the $8.1 salary he made from the Lakers in 2025-26 (he gave up $10 million of his $35.6 million contract in his buyout with the Trail Blazers last summer before signing with the Lakers), Ayton picking up his option for next season was the expected outcome.
And during an offseason the Lakers have prioritized optionality, they’ll still have options on how to improve the roster regardless of Ayton’s decision as they look to build a championship-contending group around superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.
Even with Ayton on the roster, the Lakers could still open up $45-$52 million in cap space depending on what they do with the rights (and cap holds) with their own free agents (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber).
They’ll still have several roster spots to fill.
And they’ll still have plenty of needs, with the biggest one being the type of center Doncic has long expressed his desire to play alongside in Los Angeles.
There may not be many attainable “A-list center” options on the market this summer, which is Doncic’s biggest desire now it’s known that Reaves will re-sign on a four-year, $185 million deal.
But the Lakers will continue to pursue Jazz restricted free agent Walker Kessler, who turned down a five-year, $140 million contract with Utah.
Kessler, who’s been one of the league’s best rim protectors since entering the league in 2022, fits the archetype of the kind of big man Doncic likes to play alongside.
He fits that mold in the ways Ayton, who Doncic recruited last summer to the Lakers, didn’t consistently: rim-running, shot-blocking, high-motor and stays engaged even when the offensive touches aren’t consistent.
It’s clear that Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft who’ll turn 28 next month, won’t develop into that kind of center.
Ayton’s talents have been evident since he entered the league, including last season with the Lakers when he averaged 12.5 points on a career-high 67.1% shooting and 8 rebounds in a career-high 72 games.
His value was displayed during the Lakers’ first-round series victory over the Rockets.
Ayton is clearly a starting-level caliber NBA center. He’s just not the starting center the Lakers need.
Which is why they’ll continue to pursue other options when free agency officially opens at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, with Kessler toward the top of the list alongside Pistons restricted free agent Jalen Duren.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III are among the unrestricted free agent options for the Lakers, while Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford is among the trade options.
And with Ayton opting into his deal, the Lakers could include him and his $8.1 million salary as part of a trade to upgrade the roster – whether that’s at center or another position of need on the wings/forward positions.
There could be worse outcomes for the Lakers than having Ayton open the 2026-27 season as their starting center.
But Doncic has made his desires for an upgrade clear.
Which is part of the reason why the Lakers will continue to exhaust their options in making it happen.
They know they must.
Especially during an offseason there’s a considerable amount of pressure for the Lakers, led by president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, to build a better-fitting roster together around Doncic.
Ayton is good, but not what the Lakers need.
Which is why his decision to opt into his deal won’t stop the team from searching for what they – and Doncic – want.