Lakers Rumors: Jaxson Hayes Expected to Have Strong Market in Free Agency

The Lakers could end up losing their starting center in free agency this summer.

Mar 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) gestures in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to get a new starting center at the trade deadline when they went ahead and traded Anthony Davis to the Mavericks for Luka Doncic.

They had a trade for Mark Williams that they felt good about, but Williams failed his physical which caused L.A. to rescind the trade. That meant Jaxson Hayes was going to be the starting center for the rest of the season.

While Hayes was seen as the weak point in the lineup, he has silenced his critics. He has played really good basketball, some of the best of his career.

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The Lakers have actually become a title contender now that they have Doncic and Hayes playing as well as he is. He's playing so well that he could be a target for several other teams in free agency.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha thinks that Hayes could be someone who is targeted by multiple other teams this summer.

"And I think he would have to obviously return from this injury, continue to play well, be healthy the rest of the way and maybe Lakers go on a run to conference semifinals, conference finals. And if he’s a big part of that, I think there will be suitors who look at the pedigree of being a former lottery pick, look at the age, look at the skill set, look at the improvement, and try to poach him from the Lakers.”

The Lakers would like to bring him back as a backup, but they will be looking to upgrade their starter at center. That will be the top priority for them this offseason.

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Regardless of where he ends up, Hayes has made himself some money. He has to convince everyone else in the league that he can stay healthy, though.

Health has been a problem for him in his NBA career. If he is able to play well after coming back from the injury he just came back from, he can make himself even more money.

So far this season, Hayes is averaging 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

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