Free agent heart Jaxson Hayes has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers subsequent season, sources informed 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 decide within the 2019 NBA draft earlier than buying and selling him to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The massive 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, and so they’re $3.3 million under the primary apron exhausting cap. This implies L.A. can signal second-round decide 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 alternate 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 high 10 in area purpose share allowed as contesting defender on layups and dunks amongst gamers to contest 250 or extra pictures, per ESPN Stats & Data.
In response to Basketball Reference, Hayes recorded a season-high 19 factors in three separate regular-season video games in opposition to 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 recreation of the sequence and didn’t seem in Sport 5.
Hayes Will Again Up Deandre Ayton
This deal comes at some point after the Lakers signed free agent heart Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract. His contract additionally features a participant possibility for the second season.
Per Spotrac, the Lakers pays 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 cope with Pelinka.
In response to 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.
