The Los Angeles Lakers have secured the return of center Jaxson Hayes on a one-year contract, as announced by ESPN’s Shams Charania on July 3, 2025. The deal, finalized by Hayes’ agents Bill Duffy and Marlon Harrison of WME Basketball with Lakers president Rob Pelinka, ensures the 25-year-old former lottery pick remains in Los Angeles for the 2025-26 season, backing up newly signed center Deandre Ayton. Hayes’ return adds continuity to a Lakers roster undergoing significant changes, including the blockbuster trade of Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić.
Hayes, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has spent the past two seasons with the Lakers after four years with the New Orleans Pelicans. In 126 games with Los Angeles, he averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 15.6 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 72.1% from the field. His role expanded significantly in the second half of the 2024-25 season following Davis’ abdominal injury and subsequent trade to Dallas, with Hayes starting the final 32 regular-season games, boosting his averages to 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 21.9 minutes. His career-high 72.2% field goal percentage and top-10 ranking in field goal percentage allowed as a contesting defender on layups and dunks (among players with 250+ shots contested) underscored his value as a rim-running, athletic big man.
The one-year deal, valued at approximately $3 million per posts on X, comes after Hayes exercised his $2.46 million player option for 2024-25, reflecting his commitment to the Lakers despite a reduced playoff role. In the Lakers’ 4-1 first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hayes started the first four games but averaged just 10 minutes, sitting out Game 5 entirely. Despite this, his synergy with Dončić, particularly as a lob threat, made him a priority for re-signing, especially after the Lakers missed out on veteran center Brook Lopez, who joined the Clippers.
The Lakers’ frontcourt, now featuring Ayton ($8.1 million for 2025-26) and Hayes, addresses a critical need after Davis’ departure, though depth remains thin. Hayes’ athleticism and 7’3” wingspan make him an ideal fit for Dončić’s pick-and-roll style, as noted by coach JJ Redick, who praised his rim-running ability for creating open perimeter shots. However, concerns linger about Hayes’ defensive consistency and limited three-point shooting, areas where he has yet to fully realize his draft potential.
Fan sentiment on X is mixed, with @LADEig and @LegionHoops celebrating the cost-effective signing, while @Trevor_Lane questioned the Lakers’ reliance on Hayes as a primary center option earlier in the offseason. The move aligns with the Lakers’ strategy of maintaining cap flexibility for a potential superstar signing in 2026, as they avoided long-term commitments this summer. With LeBron James opting into his contract and Dončić headlining the roster, Hayes’ return provides a familiar, high-energy presence as the Lakers aim to contend in a competitive Western Conference.
