Two former Arizona Wildcats are on the move again, with Deandre Ayton headed to Washington and Caleb Love landing a two-way deal in Philadelphia.
The biggest shift came Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers traded Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Ayton had recently opted in to the second year of his contract with the Lakers, and that deal will now carry over to Washington. He is set to make $8 million next season.
Ayton’s first season with the Lakers was a quiet one by his standards, even if he stayed on the floor more than ever. He averaged a career-low 12.5 points and 8 rebounds while starting 72 regular season games, the most he has played in a season.
In Washington, Ayton joins a front court that already includes Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. The Wizards also added another major name this year, taking BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in the NBA Draft.
Love’s news came later Friday, when Charania first reported that he had signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. He had been a free agent after spending his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
In 49 games with Portland, Love put up 10.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Philadelphia now gives Love a familiar face from Arizona. He will join former Wildcats forward Dalen Terry, who was traded to the 76ers last season and appeared in 14 games, mostly in mop up minutes.
In Other News...
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Coles rise matters because Arizona is trying to establish credibility in the Big 12 right away, and the secondary figures to be a major part of that push. The Wildcats have praised his performance and his presence in the room, and the expectation around him keeps growing as the season approaches. What happens next for Cole could say plenty about Arizonas defense, and maybe even about how far his name can travel beyond Tucson once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Just Landed A 2027 Quarterback With A Hidden Wildcats Tie
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Jones brings a dual-threat profile that has made him one of the more intriguing young quarterbacks in his class, with production as both a passer and runner and a reputation that extends to the basketball court as well. There is also a familiar family link inside the program, since his older brother is already at Arizona, giving this commitment a little extra meaning beyond the recruiting win itself. [Read more 🡒]