Jaxson Hayes’ Mindset Remains Unchanged Despite Lakers Acquiring Another Center

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

After the failed trade for Mark Williams, the Los Angeles Lakers are now forced to rely on Jaxson Hayes as their starting center for the foreseeable future.

The Lakers were in urgent need of a big man before the trade deadline and appeared to solve that issue after acquiring Williams in a major trade. However, his medical results reportedly raised several concerns, leading Los Angeles to cancel the deal.

With Williams off the table, Hayes became the only true big man on the roster until the team signed Alex Len and waived Christian Wood.

While Len provides another option for head coach JJ Redick, Hayes is staying focused on his own style of play and not worrying about things beyond his control.

“Honestly, my mindset hasn’t changed at all,” Hayes said regarding the possibility of the Lakers adding another center. “I’ve kept the same mentality as when we first traded for Luka [Doncic], and it was just going to be me, knowing what I need to do and taking full advantage of the chance.”

It’s a significant opportunity for Hayes to play alongside stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, who can find him for easy alley-oops and dunks. This was evident in Doncic’s debut against the Utah Jazz, where he connected with Hayes for some highlight-worthy dunks.

Hayes is the type of player Doncic thrives with, as he excels when paired with a lob threat in pick-and-roll situations. Hayes’ vertical spacing has been a crucial part of the team’s recent offensive success, and he’s expected to see even more scoring chances alongside Doncic.

Although Hayes’ improved play has been encouraging, Len is likely to take some of his minutes due to his size and presence in the paint. In playoff basketball, the team with the most versatile options often prevails, so expect the Lakers to alternate between Hayes and Len depending on the matchup.

Jaxson Hayes Says Playing with Luka Doncic Was Extremely Fun

Luka Doncic looked comfortable in his Lakers debut, and he still managed to find teammates like Jaxson Hayes for easy scoring opportunities. After the game, Hayes expressed that playing alongside Doncic was a lot of fun.