Ayton Exercises $8.1 Million Option with Lakers While Smart Declines His and Becomes Free Agent

Deandre Ayton is opting into his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Marcus Smart is declining his $5.4 million player option and becoming a free agent. Ayton signed a two-year, $16.

He had given up $10 million of his prior $35.6 million deal to complete a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers the previous summer. Ayton averaged 12.5 points per game on 67.1 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds during the regular season. He posted 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs, including a strong performance to help close out the Houston Rockets in the first round.

The 27-year-old center spent his first five seasons with the Phoenix Suns and two with Portland before joining Los Angeles. Smart, 32, led the Lakers in plus-minus last season as the team outscored opponents by 256 points in his minutes on the floor. The former Defensive Player of the Year averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals while starting 54 of the 62 games he played.

He joined the Lakers after two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards and was recruited to the team by Luka Doncic.