Lakers Stun Fans by Bringing Back Jaxson Hayes—What’s Behind the Bold Move?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.AdvertisementHayes became the Lakers’ starting center when Anthony Davis was part of a trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic.

AdvertisementDespite shooting a career-high 72.2% from the field as a lob threat for the Lakers during the regular season, he struggled in the playoffs. He started the first four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first-round series but was so ineffective that he didn’t play more than 10 minutes in any game as the Lakers lost 4-1. He did not play at all in Game 5.With Hayes, the Lakers now have a backup center after they agreed to a two-year deal with Deandre Ayton.The Lakers and free-agent center Jaxson Hayes have agreed up on a one-year contract for him to return to the team, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.Well, here’s a twist for the Lakers — they’ve just inked a one-year deal to bring Jaxson Hayes back into the fold as their backup center, a move that might just add a little more depth to their frontcourt after snagging Deandre Ayton on a two-year deal. Hayes, remember, stepped up as the starting center following the trade that sent Anthony Davis packing to Dallas for Luka Doncic. Despite lighting up the regular season with a blistering 72.2% shooting clip—mostly as that go-to lob man—the playoffs weren’t exactly his shining moment. He struggled mightily against the Timberwolves, seeing limited minutes and eventually being benched altogether in the series’ closeout game. Still, in 56 games, Hayes averaged a modest 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, numbers that tell only a part of the story. This reunion signals the Lakers’ faith in his potential to contribute, hopefully packing a bigger punch when it counts next season. LEARN MORE