Jaxson Hayes Returns to the Lakers on a One-Year Contract
The free agent center, Jaxson Hayes, has reached an agreement to return to the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year contract, according to sources close to the situation.
Hayes’ agents, Bill Duffy and Marlon Harrison of WME Basketball, closed the deal with Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations and general manager of the Lakers, on Thursday. This agreement was finalized one day after the team reached a two-year agreement with free agent center, Deandre Ayton.
Hayes stood out as the Lakers’ starting center last season, achieving an impressive 72.2% field goal percentage, the highest percentage of his career. League statistics reveal that he remained in the top 10 in field goal percentage allowed as a defender who contested shots near the basket. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 56 games.
Hayes started in the first four games of the playoff series, where the Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, his playing time was limited, never exceeding 10 minutes in any game of the series and did not participate in the fifth game.
With this new agreement, Hayes will take on a substitute role for Ayton.
