The Lakers are entering free agency with a lot of unanswered questions. LeBron James is still weighing his options. Austin Reaves signed his extension. But one of the quieter dominoes that could affect everything else is center Deandre Ayton and his $8.1 million player option.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the deadline for Ayton to make his call is Tuesday evening. And the early word? He’s expected to pick up that option and stay put.
“There were strong indications this weekend that Lakers center Deandre Ayton indeed intends to exercise his $8.1 million player option for next season rather than return to free agency,” Fischer wrote.
That’s not exactly a headline-grabber compared to some of the bigger money decisions around the league. Draymond Green has a $27.7 million option. Fred VanVleet’s is $25 million. Andrew Wiggins is sitting on $30.2 million. But for a team like the Lakers, who are always squeezing every dollar under the salary cap, Ayton’s choice matters.
Ayton just finished his first season in Los Angeles. He averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds per game while shooting 67.1 percent from the field. Those numbers aren’t going to blow anyone away, but he played 72 games and gave them a steady presence in the paint. That consistency matters for a team that has been trying to figure out its frontcourt rotation for years.
If Ayton opts in, the Lakers avoid having to find another center in free agency. If he declines, they suddenly have $8.1 million in cap space to play with — and a hole in the middle of their defense. Most signs point to him staying, but nothing is official until Tuesday night.
The ripple effects go beyond just Ayton. The Lakers have to figure out what LeBron wants. They need to see if they can make any trades. Every dollar counts when you’re trying to build around a superstar who’s still elite but running out of time. Ayton’s option is one of those small pieces that either locks something in or opens up a different path.
Fans are watching. The front office is waiting. And Ayton is the one holding the pen.
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