The Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of Deandre Ayton has not panned out as hoped, and the team is looking to move on from the center. The Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls have surfaced as potential landing spots for Ayton should he decline his player option for the 2026-27 season and enter free agency. This development comes as the Lakers are actively seeking to reshape their roster, with Ayton's inconsistent play making him a prime candidate for departure.
Ayton's current contract with the Lakers includes an $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season. This past season, Ayton averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Lakers. The Lakers probably couldn't care less about which team snags Ayton in the offseason, as long as he departs Los Angeles and ends the nightmare that no one saw coming.
From a basketball perspective, Ayton's fit in Los Angeles has been tenuous at best. His struggles with consistent effort and defensive rebounding were glaring, especially during the Western Conference Semifinals. In Game 3 against the Thunder, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was visibly frustrated after Ayton gave up two offensive rebounds, reportedly uttering, "I can't play him." This highlights a fundamental issue: Ayton, despite his talent and 7-foot frame, has not consistently imposed his will on either end of the floor, making him a questionable fit for a contending team.
The Lakers' willingness to move on from Ayton, along with other assets like Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, signals a clear directive from the front office to retool the roster. Should Ayton opt in, his $8.1 million contract for 2026-27 would become an easily tradeable asset, potentially packaged with other players or draft capital to acquire a more suitable contributor. This approach reflects a pattern of the Lakers aggressively pursuing roster upgrades to build a serious title contender.
The immediate future for Ayton hinges on his decision regarding his $8.1 million player option. If he opts out, he would enter free agency, where teams like the Hawks and Bulls, both in need of a starting center, could offer him a new deal. The Hawks, while having Onyeka Okongwu, might prefer him in a bench role, while the Bulls currently have no centers under contract and significant cap room. Conversely, if Ayton opts in, the Lakers would likely explore trade opportunities, using his contract as a valuable piece to acquire other players. Either scenario points to Ayton's likely departure from Los Angeles as the Lakers aim for a significant roster shake-up.
Atlanta Hawks 
