The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to trade center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks.
The deal was completed on Friday after the Lakers acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, started all 72 games for the Lakers last season and averaged 12.5 points, eight rebounds and one block while shooting 67.1 percent from the field.
Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract last summer and exercised his player option on June 29. The Lakers no longer viewed him as a long-term starter after adding Kessler.
The Wizards receive a productive veteran big man to join their young core that includes recent No. 1 picks. Hardy, a 2022 second-round selection, averaged 12.6 points in 23 games with Washington last season.
The Lakers plan to seek a cheaper backup center on the free-agent market, with Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among the names mentioned.
