How Anthony Davis could affect Deandre Ayton's Wizards role
Deandre Ayton is unlikely to start or log heavy minutes for the Washington Wizards while Anthony Davis stays healthy, Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said. A Davis trade or injury could suddenly open a bigger role for Ayton after Los Angeles dealt him for Jaden Hardy and draft picks.
Key Takeaways
- Buha expects Deandre Ayton to come off the Wizards bench behind Anthony Davis if Davis is available.
- A Davis trade or injury is the clearest path to a larger Ayton role in Washington.
- The Lakers traded Ayton for salary relief, assets, and a chance for him to rebuild market value.
- Los Angeles received Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks and later signed Kevon Looney as depth.
The headline question for Wizards fans is simple: what does Ayton's arrival mean next to Davis? Per Buha's Yahoo Sports report from the Lakers Mailbag, the answer is a limited role—unless Davis's status changes.
That framing matters because Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, is again seeking minutes after a short Lakers stint that never clicked beside Luka Doncic. For more crossover coverage in this lane, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Will Deandre Ayton start for the Wizards?
Buha's read is blunt: Ayton is "not going to be playing a ton" and "not going to be starting" in Washington while Davis is the established frontcourt star. Yahoo Sports noted Ayton would have to take a backup role if Davis is healthy and running next season.
That projection fits the roster picture. Davis remains the headliner; Ayton is depth with upside if opportunity appears. Yahoo Sports noted Ayton has failed to make a major impact even after switching teams recently, which is why the bench forecast carries weight.
How could Anthony Davis change Ayton's minutes?
Buha sketched the contingency that keeps Ayton's Wizards outlook interesting. "Maybe AD gets traded, maybe AD gets injured, and now all of a sudden Ayton is in a more prominent role," he said.
Davis's injury history adds substance to that scenario. Yahoo Sports reported he missed the entire 2025-26 season with a hand injury, and Golden State reportedly passed on pursuing him over injury concerns and extension demands, per Logan Murdock of The Ringer. For Ayton, those variables are the difference between sparse minutes and a feature role.
Why did the Lakers trade Deandre Ayton?
According to BasketNews, Buha said Los Angeles needed to save money and get under the salary cap to complete other moves, while also replenishing draft assets. The Lakers had already added Walker Kessler, shrinking Ayton's path if he stayed.
Buha also cited the shared-agent link between Ayton and Doncic: the Lakers wanted Ayton somewhere he could keep playing and rehab his value. He later called the deal a favor to Ayton alongside the salary and asset motives.
Lake Show Life argued the Lakers may already regret the swap as they hunt backup-center help behind Kessler, noting Ayton went to Washington for Hardy and two second-rounders and that LA later signed Looney to a minimum. Whether that critique sticks, the Wizards storyline still hinges on Davis—and on how quickly Deandre Ayton can seize any opening.