JULY 6: The Lakers have officially signed Hayes, they announced today in a press release.
JULY 1: The Lakers are signing Jaxson Hayes to a two-year contract, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links). The second year will be a player option, Woj adds.
It seems likely that Hayes will be receiving the veteran’s minimum, barring a sign-and-trade with New Orleans.
Hayes, 23, was the eighth overall pick of the 2019 draft after one college season at Texas. He spent his first four NBA seasons with the Pelicans, who chose not to give him a qualifying offer in order to make him a restricted free agent.
A 6’11” big man who has played both forward and center but is primarily viewed as a five, Hayes has yet to live up to his draft status, averaging 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 241 regular season games with the Pelicans over the past four years (16.8 minutes). In 610 total minutes in 2022/23, he had the worst on/off differential on the team, per NBA.com.
Still, while Hayes doesn’t have a great basketball IQ, he’s young and is a strong run-and-jump athlete. Considering he’s probably getting a minimum-salary deal, he was worth a flier as a potential buy-low candidate given the dearth of available big men on the market.
Always liked him but his game just never grew in NO.
I’m with you he’s somebody I really like too but he just haven’t panned out. He just needs a change of scenery. It’s the perfect change of scenery. He can backup Anthony Davis. The New Orleans Pelicans just ain’t a good basketball organization and it can be hard on young guys. He will be a great backup for us that Star in his role. He will be able to learn a lot from Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
He got plenty of opportunities in New Orleans. He just wasn’t good at all. He was always a project. Don’t see this working out. A lateral move from Mo Bamba.
Lakers signing all the 2019 lottery picks they can.
Cool!
He’s gonna work out well in LA!
Why do you say that? More like a 15th man off the bench playing in the G league.
He’s athletic and if he listens to the coaching and LBJ they might get the best out of him if even just a mobile big that rim runs and plays with enthusiasm. At the end of the day he’s depth behind AD.
Good signing. For the vet minimum, why not take a flier. I think he’ll be a better fit than Bamba
I agree. He’s an energy guy, not finesse and that’s what LA needs. He doesn’t need shots to impact the game. Another good low risk move by Rob
Damn, Lakers making some good moves
Lol
I bet youre a rockets fan gary
Lakers making alot of solid moves. Def gonna be better than last yr and they made it to the Western Conference Finals.
Lakers are better??? LeBron is about to be 40. Anthony Davis another year on that injured body.
Gabe Vincent was terrific in the playoffs. He was a back of the rotation guy all season before that. Teams gotta learn these Miami dudes ain’t the same when Spoelstra ain’t coaching them and they take off the Miami jersey. The Lakers should have learned that lesson from Kendrick Nunn. Spoelstra got productive minutes out of Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry. Don’t happen without him.
Cam Reddish??? Failed in Atlanta. Failed in New York. Failed in Portland.
Taurean Prince??? He just got cut by Minnesota.
Remember, the Western Conference playoffs had an injured Clipper team (Kawhi, PG). Injured Memphis team (Steven Adams, Brandon Clark) and an injured Phoenix team (Chris Paul, no depth from trade). This all factored heavily in the Lakers run to the Western Conference Finals. All three of these teams are better, and the Lakers still have no answer for Jokic.
It is all about who can stay the healthiest towards the end of the season.
Those are not reasons not to put together a team that can compete with people their own age. They are in excellent shape to throw bodies at people and be able to compete better than the others around that age.
Take out the veterans that are being hunted down and all that’s left are the 18 thru 21 class to choose from.
They are legit to win 50 games.
Not a bad move for them. Still young.
He getting some of Street Clothes’ minutes?
Another good move by the LAL. Hayes has shown more upside than Bamba.
Other than the Russ trade The Lakers have been nailing there signings