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Deandre Ayton will return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season after picking up his player option. Marcus Smart is entering free agency after turning down his option with the team.
usatoday.comDeandre Ayton is exercising his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported. Marcus Smart is declining his $5.4 million option and will become an unrestricted free agent. Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract with the Lakers last offseason after agreeing to a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He gave up $10 million of a prior $35.6 million deal to complete that arrangement. The 28-year-old center spent his first five seasons with the Phoenix Suns and two with Portland before joining Los Angeles. Ayton averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during the regular season while shooting 67.1 percent from the field.
In the playoffs he posted 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, including a strong series against the Houston Rockets. 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 was recruited to Los Angeles by Luka Doncic after two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.
Smart started 54 of 62 games and averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
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Paraguay defeated Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw that went to extra time. The result marks Germany's earliest World Cup exit since 2018 and Paraguay's first appearance in the knockout stage.
winnipegfreepress.comThe Memphis Grizzlies agreed to send two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and guard Kris Murray. The deal, reported June 29, still needs NBA approval and physical examinations.
onwardstate.comThe Detroit Lions released cornerback Terrion Arnold hours after a judge set his bond at $1 million on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. Arnold faces eight felony counts tied to a February incident in Florida.