Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton said on May 13 that he has not yet thought about whether to exercise his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season. The comment comes after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the start of a busy offseason for the team.
Ayton’s decision is significant as he is one of up to nine potential free agents for Los Angeles this summer. The center joined the Lakers last offseason on a two-year, $16.2 million deal after being waived by Portland. His performance throughout the season drew both praise and criticism, with some noting his positive contributions and others pointing out concerns over his consistency.
When asked about his future with the team, Ayton said, “Purple and gold, that’s about it. I’m just honored and happy to be on this platform, another chance and all of that.” He added that he learned from many great players during his year in Los Angeles but had not considered any next steps yet: “I haven’t even thought about anything else to be honest. I just wanted to focus on this and have a little break to myself.”
Ayton also indicated that decisions regarding his contract would involve discussions with his agents: “I trust my agents. That’s about it. I don’t really think too much about it, that’s out of my hands,” he said. Despite uncertainty around his role or salary next season, Ayton expressed appreciation for how he was treated in Los Angeles: “But I love it here regardless. Fans and everybody that has been around me, the coaching staff, they really treated me well, treated me like family.”
The outcome of Ayton’s player option could affect both his own career path and how the Lakers approach filling their roster at center going forward.
