Free agent heart Jaxson Hayes has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers subsequent season, sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday. His contract reportedly carries a no-trade clause.
Jaxson Hayes Has Performed Two Seasons With Lakers
Hayes’ brokers, Invoice Duffy and Marlon Harrison of WME Basketball, finalized the contract with Lakers president of basketball operations and normal supervisor Rob Pelinka.
Hayes has performed six NBA seasons. The Atlanta Hawks chosen the previous Texas Longhorn with the eighth general choose within the 2019 NBA draft earlier than buying and selling him to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The large man performed 4 seasons with the Pelicans earlier than signing a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers within the 2023 offseason. He earned $2.46 million with the purple and gold final season.
Together with Hayes’ deal, the Lakers have 12 gamers signed to assured contracts and two non-guaranteed, they usually’re $3.3 million beneath the primary apron laborious cap. This implies L.A. can signal second-round choose Adou Thiero and nonetheless stay beneath.
Hayes Grew to become Starter After Luka Doncic Commerce
Hayes, 25, emerged because the Lakers’ beginning heart final season after they dealt Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in change for celebrity Luka Doncic on the commerce deadline.
In 56 video games (35 begins) this previous marketing campaign, Hayes averaged 6.8 factors, profession highs of 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists, and 19.5 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures a career-best 72.2% from the sphere.
The 7-footer additionally completed within the prime 10 in area objective share allowed as contesting defender on layups and dunks amongst gamers to contest 250 or extra pictures, per ESPN Stats & Data.
In accordance with Basketball Reference, Hayes recorded a season-high 19 factors in three separate regular-season video games towards the Pelicans (March 4), Phoenix Suns (March 16), and Chicago Bulls (March 27).
As well as, Hayes began the primary 4 video games of the Lakers’ 4-1 playoff sequence loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves however by no means performed greater than 10 minutes in any sport of the sequence and didn’t seem in Recreation 5.
Hayes Will Again Up Deandre Ayton
This deal comes someday after the Lakers signed free agent heart Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract. His contract additionally features a participant choice for the second season.
Per Spotrac, the Lakers can pay Ayton $8.1 million — the rest of the midlevel exception after factoring in free agent Jake LaRavia’s wage — in 2025-26.
Ayton’s brokers, Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports activities and Invoice Duffy of WME Sports activities, negotiated the take care of Pelinka.
In accordance with ESPN’s Bobby Marks, between the Portland Path Blazers and the Lakers, Ayton will earn $34 million subsequent season. The seven-year veteran finalized a buyout with Portland on Sunday evening.
