NBA Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping a risky free-agent signing pays off.
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make a big, headline-grabbing move this offseason. But that doesn’t mean the team didn’t improve. Instead of making the big splash that many fans probably wanted them to make, the Lakers did make a few smaller-level additions that could go a long way in helping the team take the next step into championship contention in the Western Conference next season.
One of the more intriguing low-risk, high-reward acquisitions that could end up playing a big role for the Lakers is Jaxson Hayes. The young big man that started his career with the New Orleans Pelicans, drafted out of Texas, was looking for a change of scenery and the Lakers were one of the teams willing to take the gamble on him.
After four up-and-down seasons with the Pelicans, New Orleans decided it was time to pull the plug on the experiment. Hayes signed a “prove-it” two-year minimum deal with the Lakers in free agency.
According to a recent report, there’s an expectation that the Lakers are hoping or believe Hayes could end up playing a “prominent” role next to Anthony Davis this season. That’s a pretty bold claim for a player that was signed to the minimum, but it also tells you all you need to know about his potential and talent.
Jaxson Hayes has had a confusing start to his career
As a former top-10 pick, there’s no question that Hayes is a talented young big. He hasn’t had an ideal start to his career but has at least flashed some high-end potential that should have a team like the Lakers excited about the possibilities.
Perhaps playing next to AD and a team as talented as the Lakers could help Hayes blossom under much fewer expectations. Hayes’ best season with the Pelicans occurred during his third season in the league in which he averaged nine points and five rebounds on 62 percent shooting from the field in only 20 minutes per game.
If Hayes can mirror that level of production this season with the Lakers, the signing would be viewed as a huge win. At 23 years old, that’s not out of the realm of possibility. In fact, you can make the argument that Hayes still has his best basketball in front of him.
Will he be able to take the next step in his progression with the Lakers? Now that’s the big question. Heading into the season, though, it seems as if the Lakers are expecting that to happen.