Lakers sending Ayton to Wizards for Hardy and 2 second-round picks

Deandre Ayton is being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, played for the Phoenix Suns for five seasons and the Portland Trail Blazers for two before joining the Lakers last season, where he averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 72 games. For his career, he averages 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds.

With Ayton's arrival, Washington now has three No. 1 overall picks on its roster: Ayton, Anthony Davis, and rookie AJ Dybantsa, selected first in last month's draft.

Ayton's exit continues an offseason of upheaval for the Lakers. LeBron James is not coming back, and Los Angeles is giving up two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps as part of a sign-and-trade bringing big man Walker Kessler from Utah.

Sources

• AP News — "Lakers sending Ayton to Wizards for Hardy and 2 second-round picks, AP source says": https://apnews.com/article/lakers-wizards-trade-deandre-ayton-77693c05d11b91b59009f9d10bbe379b