Lakers' $18M under the radar offseason trade viewed as 'pleasant surprise' that sets up future

The Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed LeBron James for eight seasons, including the 2020 season when he helped bring an NBA championship to Los Angeles. LA had some magical years with James, but he also had some seasons that simply were not the best for him.

At the conclusion of this past season, it was unclear what he was going to do. The four-time NBA champion thought he would retire.

“I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love,” James posted.

Instead, he decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving LA. However, the Lakers used this opportunity to have a full reset, making a lot of roster changes. One of those moves was trading Deandre Ayton for Jaden Hardy.

“The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday,” ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin wrote.

While the trade has undoubtedly been overlooked, it has brought some nice things for the Lakers in the future. After trading away almost all of their first-round picks for Walker Kessler, it gives them some future draft capital. Hardy does not have to play much, but The Athletic’s Dan Woike believes the draft capital was a pleasant surprise.

“On the surface, the move was a big win for a Lakers team that was looking for outs after Ayton picked up his player option. Whether or not Hardy matters this season, the draft capital brought in was a pleasant surprise for the Lakers’ front office,” Woike wrote.

The Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves era is in a state of win-now basketball. If they cannot complete that task, then it could be several long years, as they really do not have many draft assets right now.

Hardy is on an $18 million contract with the Lakers now. His contract could become the most valuable part of the deal. It is not because he will be playing, but because of what he brought with him in the trade from Washington.

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