Luka Dončić's former teammate Jaden Hardy is joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
What happened?
The Lakers traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Hardy and two second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032.
The trade was announced on Friday by NBA insider Shams Charania.
Why it matters for Luka Dončić
Ayton's departure comes after the Lakers acquired Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz.
Kessler agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract with the Lakers and will be the franchise's starting center next season.
What comes next?
Hardy will likely come off the bench for the Lakers, and it will be interesting to see how many minutes he gets in the rotation next season.
The Lakers have several options in the guard positions, including Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, and Bronny James.
Ayton started 72 games for the Lakers last season, averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.
He was often criticized for his lack of consistency.
Hardy showed his potential for the Wizards, averaging 12.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23 appearances off the bench.
The move to trade Ayton gives the Lakers more draft assets and flexibility to pay more money to free agents while staying within their cap space.
The Lakers finished as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference last season.
Davis will now look to make a fresh start with the Wizards, where he will likely be the backup to star center Anthony Davis.
The Lakers' offseason moves are expected to improve their chances of winning next season.
And with Hardy on board, they have a new talent to work with.
But it remains to be seen how the team will perform next season.
So the Lakers will have to wait and see how their new lineup works out.
The trade is a significant move for the Lakers, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
The team's fans will be watching closely to see how the new players perform.
And the Lakers' front office will be hoping that their moves pay off.
The Lakers' next move will be to prepare for the new season.
They will have to work on their lineup and make sure everyone is working together.
And they will have to be ready to face their rivals in the Western Conference.
The new season is just around the corner, and the Lakers are getting ready.
They have made some significant moves, and they are looking to improve.
But it won't be easy, and they will have to work hard to succeed.
The Lakers' fans are excited to see what the new season will bring.
They are hoping that the team will do well and make a deep run in the playoffs.
And they are looking forward to seeing how the new players will perform.
The Lakers' front office is confident that they have made the right moves.
They believe that the team has the talent and the depth to succeed.
And they are hoping that the team will live up to their expectations.
The new season will be an exciting one for the Lakers.
They have a new lineup, and they are looking to make a statement.
And they will have to be ready to face whatever challenges come their way.