The Los Angeles Lakers have bolstered their center position by re-signing Jackson Hayes to a one-year contract, according to ESPN. Alongside this, the Lakers also secured Deandre Ayton on a two-year deal. Hayes, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, started his professional career with the New Orleans Pelicans. After some mixed performances there, he joined the Lakers in 2023. In his debut season with Los Angeles, Hayes appeared in 56 games, starting 35 of them, and averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. Despite slipping minutes during the playoffs, including not playing in Game 5 of the first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hayes found himself stepping up significantly after the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
Fan Take: This move is crucial for Lakers fans eager to see a strong, stable frontcourt presence following the Anthony Davis trade. Hayes’ development and Ayton’s addition could reshape the Lakers’ interior defense and rebounding, signaling an exciting new chapter for the franchise and adding intrigue to the center position across the league.
