The Los Angeles Lakers have a better idea of what its depth at center will look like with Jaxson Hayes expected to return to the team for another season.
Hayes has agreed to a one-year deal with the team, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report this development. A contract figure for Hayes’ deal with the Lakers is not known at this time.
The news of Hayes’ return comes one day after ESPN reported that the team had agreed to a deal with center DeAndre Ayton.
Ayton is expected to take on the role as the starting center with Hayes likely coming off the bench.
Jaxson Hayes stats
Hayes averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 19.5 minutes per game this past season for the Lakers. The former first-round pick started 35 of the 56 games he played last season. He shot a career-high 72.2% from the field during the regular season.
Hayes took on a bigger role with the team after the Lakers decided to trade away Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the Luka Doncic trade. Hayes saw his role diminish during the postseason, where he averaged just 7.8 minutes per game in the first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs after losing the series, 4-1.