Deandre Ayton will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season after exercising his $8.1 million player option, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
The move keeps the Lakers’ starting center under contract after a productive first season in Los Angeles, though it is not expected to end the organization’s pursuit of additional frontcourt help this offseason.
Ayton appeared in 72 regular-season games in 2025-26, starting every contest while averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 block in 27.2 minutes per game. He also led all regular rotation players in field-goal percentage at 67.1%, thriving as a rim runner and finisher alongside Luka Doncic.
The Lakers finished 53-29, captured the Pacific Division title and earned the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. They defeated the Houston Rockets in six games during the first round before being swept 4-0 by the eventual Western Conference finalist Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals.
Ayton’s return preserves continuity for a team built around Doncic, who averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds across 64 games while finishing fourth in MVP voting. Austin Reaves also delivered a breakout campaign with career highs of 23.3 points and 5.5 assists per game, while LeBron James remained highly productive in his age-41 season, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
Despite Ayton’s decision to stay, the Lakers are still expected to explore upgrades at center. NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin recently reported that Los Angeles continues to prioritize adding size, with the organization seeking a stronger defensive presence in the paint to complement Doncic.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin also reported that Doncic has communicated the importance of adding another high-level center, although he has not been directly involved in recruiting players or influencing personnel decisions.
Ayton’s contract makes those plans easier to pursue. At $8.1 million, his salary represents strong value for a starting-caliber center and gives Los Angeles flexibility to pursue another impact big without sacrificing significant financial flexibility.
The Lakers have already been linked to centers including Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler, both of whom would address areas that became evident during the postseason, particularly rim protection and defensive rebounding against elite opponents.
