The Los Angeles Lakers have a ton of moving pieces heading into the offseason, with multiple players entering free agency or at least having the choice whether to enter.
Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, two players who were prominent starters when healthy, hold player options on the second year of their two-year deal that they signed over the 2025 offseason.
Ayton and Smart were bought out by their previous teams and picked up by the Lakers, who had limited options for roster improvement.
After exploring the trade market for a center, the Lakers were left without anyone better than Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick.
On the other end, Marcus Smart had been dealing with injuries and did not fit with the rebuilding Washington Wizards, prompting him to explore options elsewhere.
The Lakers needed Smart’s defense and Ayton’s size, making both their bigger offseason additions.
However, they could end up testing their market in 2026, and NBA expert John Hollinger believes both will exercise their options.
“Ayton signed a bargain deal with the Lakers that he massively outplayed (BORD$ value $19.3 million) and should be up for a reward in the free-agent market as a result,” Hollinger wrote. “He’ll be among the most gettable starting centers on the market.”
“Smart signed his deal with a player option with the idea that he could get a payday this summer if he played well. He did. BORD$ now values him at $11.6 million, so he can confidently test the market.”
Who should the Lakers prioritize?
Without a doubt, Smart was the more valuable player for the Lakers. Ayton ran hot and cold all year long, having a great series against the Houston Rockets, but being dominated against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Smart, on the other hand, had an impact that went beyond the stat sheet, organizing the defense, playing hard, and hitting clutch shots.
If a team wants to pay Ayton anywhere near $19 million, the Lakers should let them, but Smart, on the other hand, at somewhere around $11 million, would be a solid signing
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