A day after adding free agent center Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly agreed to a deal on Thursday to bring back their incumbent at the position, Jaxson Hayes.
The Lakers and Hayes settled on a one-year contract, according to ESPN and The Athletic. Financial terms weren’t reported.
In his second season with Los Angles in 2024-25, Hayes averaged 6.8 points, a career-high 4.8 rebounds and a career-best 1.0 assists in 56 games (35 starts).
The 25-year-old Texas player started the first four games of the Lakers’ five-game defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, contributing just 1.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per contest.
The Lakers never brought him off the bench in their series-ending loss.
After getting selected eighth overall in the 2019 draft by the Atlanta Hawks, Hayes was immediately dealt to the Pelicans. He played four seasons in New Orleans, then signed with the Lakers in July 2023.
In 367 career NBA games (87 starts), Hayes has averages of 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists.
Ayton, 26, reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers after the Portland Trail Blazers bought out his contract. He has career averages of 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 398 games (391 starts).
–Field Level Media
