The news of Deandre Ayton exercising his $8.1 player option for the 2026-27 season to stay with the Lakers wasn’t surprising. Even with him outplaying the $8.1 salary he made from the Lakers in 2025-26 (he gave up $10 million of his $35.6 million contract in his buyout with the Trail Blazers last summer before signing with the Lakers), Ayton picking up his option for next season was the expected outcome. And during an offseason the Lakers have prioritized optionality, they’ll still have options