LOS ANGELES — When the Lakers traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as a part of the three-team deal that introduced Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, Jaxson Hayes expressed pleasure in regards to the alternative he had in entrance of him.
Hayes, who was within the midst of his sixth NBA season after being the No. 8 choose within the 2019 draft, was moving into probably the most vital position of his profession because the Lakers’ beginning heart on the most effective staff he had been part of thus far.
“I feel like I’m very prepared,” Hayes mentioned in early February. “God’s blessed me with a bunch of talents and a bunch of abilities, and I’m fully ready to take full advantage of it.”
Initially, Hayes thrived, enjoying the most effective basketball of his younger profession.
The 7-foot, 220-pound massive man averaged 9.3 factors (78.2% taking pictures), 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocked photographs in 24 video games (23.6 minutes) because the Lakers’ beginning heart from Jan. 30 to March 27 – a interval that included Davis being sidelined for a few video games with an damage earlier than being traded and Doncic and LeBron James being sidelined for stretches due to damage/damage administration.
However because the common season got here to a detailed, Hayes’ enjoying time diminished whilst he remained the staff’s beginning heart.
Hayes averaged simply 17 minutes over the ultimate eight regular-season video games he performed in, recording 4.6 factors (on 64% taking pictures) and 5 rebounds, because the Lakers relied much more on center-less lineups throughout season’s ultimate stretch.
And his time on the courtroom was decreased much more through the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves: eight minutes performed in Recreation 1; 9 minutes in Video games 2 and three; and simply 4 in Recreation 4 earlier than being taken out of the beginning lineup and receiving a DNP-CD (didn’t play – coach’s resolution) within the Lakers’ season-ending Recreation 5 loss.
“They told me and were straight with me, just saying just to stay ready and they were going to try some other things out,” Hayes mentioned of the teaching workers’s resolution to reduce Hayes’ position within the playoff collection throughout his end-of-season press convention. “That’s a coach’s decision, so I respect that.”
Hayes, 25, completed the collection with extra fouls (eight) than he did factors (seven), and had simply as many fouls as rebounds and shot makes an attempt in half-hour, with dangerous habits popping again up on the worst time.
“I feel like I grew a good amount a certain ways just on the defensive end, stepping up and showing I can compete at the high level, and not just be a backup for a team,” Hayes mentioned. “I feel like I showed I can be out there playing more. Obviously, there’s still a ton I need to work on. But I felt pretty good through the regular season.”
The Lakers have been open about their want for an enormous man – and doubtless a couple of – relationship to after they first acquired Doncic.
The Lakers made a cope with the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 5 for 23-year-old heart Mark Williams forward of the commerce deadline, agreeing to ship out Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, their 2031 unprotected first-round draft choose and a 2030 first-round choose swap. However the commerce was rescinded just a few days later after Williams failed the staff’s bodily, resulting in Hayes protecting the beginning heart position.
How Hayes components into the Lakers’ plans to replenish their massive man depth will probably be one of many key storylines to observe of the offseason, particularly with the style Hayes’ season ended and the way his position diminished.
Hayes will develop into an unrestricted free agent after the two-year, $4.6 million contract he signed with the Lakers expires in late June.
Initially Revealed: Could 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM PDT
