The Los Angeles Lakers arrive at the 2026-27 season with a roster packed with new players. After the numerous summer changes, the Lakers present what is essentially a different team built through a series of trades, though they don’t seem fully satisfied with all the pieces they’ve received. And specifically, one of the recently arrived players appears destined to depart.
We’re talking about Jaden Hardy, who, according to Sean Deveny, Heavy’s journalist, the franchise is seeking a way out. With 16 players on the roster, at least one spot must be freed before the regular season begins, and the Lakers already know who the man that must leave is. In fact, they already knew how it should be done. But things did not end up going as planned.
The Frustrated Move
It’s no secret that Jonathan Kuminga was one of the Californians’ targets, who, as Deveny asserts, were looking to land him via a sign & trade in which Hardy would be sent to another team. However, the small forward ended up choosing the Timberwolves, ruining this plan and leaving the Lakers with the task of figuring out what to do with Hardy in the coming weeks.
Jaden arrived to the franchise in the Deandre Ayton trade from Washington, where he had been sent shortly before in the move that sent Anthony Davis to the capital. There, with more minutes than he had ever had in Dallas, he averaged 12.6 points in the 23 games he played for the Wizards, something that, however, did not seem to convince either of the two franchises. And it remains to be seen if there is anyone willing to enter talks with the Lakers to give him an opportunity.
Hardy can be an explosive scorer with moments of high scoring, but his limited evolution over these four seasons makes that all he has right now. And that is a profile of player increasingly undervalued in an NBA where versatility is the most demanded virtue. Perhaps that is where the Lakers’ desire to move him resides, and it will be interesting to see what they demand from anyone who might be interested.
The 2026-27 season will be the shooting guard’s second year under contract, having signed for 18 million over three seasons. The next season, however, includes a team option, so he could become a free agent next summer if he doesn’t manage to convince his new team. Whatever the case may be.
