Oklahoma City swept the Los Angeles Lakers in four games, and now the roster decisions that were waiting in the wings are suddenly urgent. Among them:
What does Deandre Ayton, the 28-year-old center who joined Los Angeles last July after a buyout from Portland, do with his player option for 2026-27?
After Monday's Game 4 loss, he said he hasn't considered the player option and trusts his agents. "I love it here regardless," he said.
Ayton signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in July 2025 that includes a $8,104,000 player option for the 2026-27 season. At $8.1 million, that figure is well below his market value as a former No. 1 overall pick with career averages of 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
The question is whether his performance this postseason depresses what another team would pay him.
What Ayton's playoff performance against OKC means for his decision
Ayton was strong in the first round against Houston, averaging a double-double while defending All-Star center Alperen Sengun effectively.
But in the Thunder series, it was a different story. He averaged just 7.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in the first three games while shooting 39.3% from the field, and was thoroughly outplayed by Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Deandre Ayton says he hasn't thought about his player option for 2026-27. Says he trusts his agents.
"I love it here regardless." pic.twitter.com/qwQ1K9hss3
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 12, 2026
His six-point output in the finale will not help his leverage in free agency if he opts out.
Some analysts advise the Lakers should move on from Ayton, though $8.1 million for a healthy 27-year-old center with his physical profile still carries value on any roster.
Ayton saying he loves it in Los Angeles is not nothing. The franchise has treated him well, JJ Redick expressed repeated confidence in him even through rough stretches, and the structure around him was about as good as it gets.
Remember vividly last summer, he was described as filling the Lakers' most glaring offensive need, particularly alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Now, both are gone from the active roster picture, either through injury or uncertainty, which makes the environment he is returning to look quite different. His agents will have thoughts. He said he trusts them.
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