Buha: It will be hard for Jaxson Hayes to get rotation minutes
Just months after having to deal with an incomplete and unbalanced roster that lacked depth, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to have something approaching an embarrassment of riches, especially on the offensive end.
They have arguably the NBA’s best superstar duo in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Former All-Star D’Angelo Russell and emerging stud Austin Reaves give them a strong and potent starting backcourt. Rui Hachimura is a legitimate scoring threat when they need him to be, while newcomer Christian Wood can score and stretch the floor.
Seemingly lost in the shuffle after Wood’s signing last week is Jaxson Hayes, a 6-foot-11 jumping jack that L.A. signed earlier this summer. Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 draft, didn’t quite pan out in four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, but he can block shots, run the floor and finish strong at the rim.
While Wood is undersized at the 5 and a poor defender, and while the Lakers could use a true defensive center behind Anthony Davis, Jovan Buha feels Hayes may not get anything more than spot duty.
Via The Athletic:
“Wood immediately slots in as the backup center behind Davis. The two centers will likely play most, if not all, of the 48 available minutes at the five, with a smaller player (James, Hachimura) or Hayes occasionally playing in certain matchups and blowouts. (He’ll also get minutes when Davis inevitably misses time due to injury).
“Perhaps this projection is too pessimistic with Hayes’ role. But aside from when Davis is out, where exactly are the minutes? Is he going to replace [Jarred] Vanderbilt? Is Hachimura going to have his minutes slashed? Maybe [Taurean] Prince?
“I just don’t see a realistic scenario for Hayes to get rotation minutes with a full roster. He’s clearly behind Davis, James, Hachimura, Wood, Prince and Vanderbilt in the frontcourt pecking order. Wood basically assumes all of Hayes’ minutes (10 in the previous forecast) and half of Vanderbilt’s minutes. Finding minutes for Hayes would come at the expense of Hachimura, Prince and/or Vanderbilt — a cost that, when factoring in the team’s basic needs of shooting and perimeter defense around James and Davis, doesn’t make sense.
“The Lakers will use more two-big lineups next season, but that seems more likely to happen against bench units. The challenge for the Lakers’ coaching staff is figuring out the best ways to use Wood and possibly Hayes defensively. They aren’t the same plug-and-play options that JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard were during the championship season (or even Marc Gasol and Andre Drummond, to a lesser extent, during the 2020-21 season).”
If Hayes plays his role well, the Lakers can certainly use his shot-blocking, rebounding and overall athleticism. However, absent an injury to Davis, which seems inevitable each season at this point, he may end up often being glued to the bench, partly due to his offensive limitations.
It’s a scenario Vanderbilt found himself in during the 2023 playoffs, and Buha also predicts he could have trouble getting minutes due to the addition of Prince, who is a 3-and-D wing.
