Deandre Ayton wants another year with Luka Doncic.
The former first-overall pick is set to opt in to his $8.1-million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday.
Ayton joined the Lakers as a free agent ahead of last season on a two-year, $16.2 million contract, including the player option, after he was waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 27-year-old averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds with the Lakers, both career lows, but finished with a career-high 67.1 field goal percentage, mostly working as a play-finisher for gifted offensive table-setter Doncic.
Drafted first overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2018 — the same year Doncic went third — Ayton has averaged 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists over his eight-year career, split between the Suns, Blazers and Lakers.
Ayton's return marks the second major move of the off-season for L.A., as it reportedly re-signed guard Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal last week.
