Jaxson Hayes Reportedly Agrees to Lakers Contract After Deandre Ayton Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly re-sign center Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal, per ESPN's Shams Charania:

The news dropped a day after the Lakers reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year, $16.6 million contract with center Deandre Ayton, who will be Los Angeles' starting center. Hayes will back up Ayton, who received a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers and became a free agent.

The 25-year-old Hayes has played six NBA seasons. The Atlanta Hawks selected the ex-Texas Longhorn with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft before trading him to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Hayes played on the Pels for four campaigns before signing a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers in the 2023 offseason.

The 7'0", 220-pound Hayes played 56 games last year, starting 35. He averaged 6.8 points on 72.2 percent shooting and 4.8 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. For his career, Hayes has posted 6.8 points on 64.9 percent shooting and 3.9 rebounds.

Now he's back in Los Angeles for another year as the Lakers look to improve upon a 50-win season that ended with a first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.