The Washington Wizards have acquired Deandre Ayton in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. ## What happened?
Ayton was traded to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. He averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per contest while shooting 67.1% from the field in 72 games with the Lakers.
Reaction from Joe Johnson
NBA legend Joe Johnson reacted to the trade, saying Ayton may have been overwhelmed by the pressure in Los Angeles. Johnson stated: "Could be or just probably not playing up to the potential… The lights could have been too bright for him in LA… He may go to Washington and ball out…" He also questioned what the Wizards would do with their newfound depth at center, with Ayton joining Anthony Davis and others.
Looking at the Wizards' roster
The Wizards have a intriguing roster heading into the 2026-27 season, with Ayton joining Davis, who has yet to appear in a game for the franchise. | Player | Position | | --- | --- | | Deandre Ayton | Center | | Anthony Davis | Center | | Trae Young | Point Guard |
The team is coming off a tough stretch, with their last result being a 130-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on 2026-04-12. Their recent form has been poor, with a record of 0W-0D-5L in their last 5 games. ## What comes next?
The Wizards will look to turn their season around with the addition of Ayton and the upcoming season. With a new roster and a fresh start, the team will aim to make a push for the playoffs. The Wizards last made the NBA playoffs during the 2021 season. As of 2026-07-06, the team is preparing for the upcoming season with their new roster in place.