Lakers Will Trade or Waive Guard Jaden Hardy
The Los Angeles Lakers are thinning their roster ahead of the upcoming regular season.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Will the Los Angeles Lakers trade or waive Jaden Hardy before the 2026-27 season begins?
The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to move on from 24-year-old guard Jaden Hardy before the regular season begins in late October 2026. The franchise is currently evaluating trade and waiver options to reach mandatory roster compliance.
Why it matters
The team faces a backcourt logjam, necessitating roster reductions to meet league requirements. After failing to acquire Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga, the organization is pivoting to consolidate its assets.
Jaden Hardy is 24 years old and currently playing under an expiring contract for the 2026-27 season. The Lakers previously acquired him in July 2026 alongside two second-round draft picks in a deal involving Deandre Ayton.
The players
Jaden Hardy
He is a 24-year-old professional basketball player who serves as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers
They are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles that competes in the Western Conference of the NBA.
Washington Wizards
This professional basketball team is based in Washington, D.C., and operates within the Eastern Conference.
Jonathan Kuminga
He is an active forward currently playing for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.
Deandre Ayton
He is a professional basketball player who was traded by the Lakers to the Washington Wizards in July 2026.
The details
The Lakers are working to finalize their roster composition as they prepare for the season tip-off. Internal pressure to clear depth in the backcourt has led management to consider both outright waivers and potential trades for current players.
Timeline
The Lakers acquired Jaden Hardy from the Washington Wizards in July 2026.
The 2026-27 NBA regular season begins in late October 2026.
Jaden Hardy holds a team option for the 2027-28 season.
Season Trajectory
These maneuvers signal a significant shift in the Lakers' rotation strategy as they attempt to balance their backcourt depth before the season starts. The team's ability to successfully move Hardy will dictate their flexibility in pursuing future trade targets or free agents.
Moving Jaden Hardy will finalize the team's depth chart and clarify the primary rotation options for the upcoming season. Fantasy managers and fans should monitor the final roster announcement to see how the vacancy affects secondary ball-handling minutes.
The takeaway
Roster management is a constant reality for NBA teams looking to balance salary cap space and talent depth. Fans should keep an eye on how these personnel shifts impact the team's overall chemistry and rotation in the first few games of the season.
What happens next
The Lakers are expected to complete their roster reduction moves in the coming weeks before the NBA regular season begins in late October 2026.
Further reading
For more news on team management, visit our Basketball section.
Live Poll
Will the Los Angeles Lakers trade or waive Jaden Hardy before the 2026-27 season begins?
