Lakers Must Upgrade Center Position in 2025 NBA Offseason Amid Jaxson Hayes Rumors

For the Los Angeles Lakers, strengthening the center position became a need the second they shipped Anthony Davis out at the NBA trade deadline.

That's why they initially paid a steep price to pluck Mark Williams away from the Charlotte Hornets, only to later back out of the deal due to a failed physical.

They still need to address that spot, but external upgrades aren't the only challenge. They even apparently need to worry about talent retention.

Starting center and impending unrestricted free agent Jaxson Hayes will have 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," per The Athletic's Jovan Buha (h/t Lakers on SI).

Hayes generating some external interest is a net positive for the Purple and Gold. Their options are otherwise pretty limited at the center spot, although maybe Maxi Kleber joins the mix sooner than later.

And Hayes is turning heads for the right reasons. Sure, rim-runners will only be enhanced by slotting alongside shot-creators the caliber of Luka Dončić and LeBron James, but Hayes still gets credit for finishing the plays that come his way.

His 71.8 field-goal percentage is the second-highest of his career. His 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes matches his previous personal best, per Basketball-Reference, while his 8.7 rebounds per 36 minutes ties for the second-most he's ever corralled.

He is making these numbers matter, too. Among rotation regulars, he has the fifth-best net differential on the team at plus-4.9 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com.

The Lakers, in other words, are absolutely benefitting from what Hayes is bringing.

"You can see the difference (of having Hayes in the lineup)," Dončić told reporters. "For me, it helps me a lot."

Hayes is long, athletic and always active. He is becoming ultra-reliable as a finisher and making subtle, smart improvements as a passer.

He also isn't changing the overall focus of the Lakers' offseason. They need a better big man to hold down the interior on both ends. Hayes can get too jumpy on defense, and his 220-pound frame can get pushed around the paint by burlier bigs.

There's a reason they did the Williams deal with Hayes already on the roster. It's the same reason that will have them searching for center upgrades this summer. The only difference is it seems less likely Hayes will stick around to back up whichever center L.A. is able to land.

The Lakers need a premier paint protector and punishing lob-finisher. Bonus points if they can find a center who can do at least one of the following: switch onto perimeter players, make perimeter shots, find open teammates on the short roll or fire long outlet passes to help spark the transition game.

Hayes basically checks the most basic elements for what L.A. needs out of its center, or at least he does when he remains disciplined on the defensive end. And he has executed his task well enough to surely find a pay raise this summer.

The Lakers will need more out of this position than he can provide, though, especially as James gets deeper into his 40s. L.A. has long known it needed to find an impact center. This bank-boosting run by Hayes hasn't changed that fact.