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Story summary
- The Lakers must decide by June 29 whether Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) will take their 2026-27 options.
- Dan Woike of The Athletic says Smart is more likely than Ayton to return.
- Lakers prefer a younger athletic center and could use Ayton as a salary filler or trade him if he takes his option.
- They have contacted the Oklahoma City Thunder about wing Lu Dort as a replacement.
