The Victor Wembanyama era may have begun in earnest on Monday. That night, the 22-year-old, 7-foot-4 San Antonio Spurs phenom went off for 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, and he made numerous plays in crunch time as the Spurs defeated the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in double overtime.
Many agree that if the Los Angeles Lakers are to win the NBA championship anytime soon, the team will need some sort of upgrade at the center position. Deandre Ayton’s season with the Lakers was considered a disappointment, or something even worse than that, and while backup Jaxson Hayes plays with energy and effort, he is limited offensively and lacks elite strength.
Still, it may help the Lakers to keep Hayes, even if he ends up third on their depth chart next season. He will become a free agent this summer, and Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reported that the big man wants to stay put, although it isn’t a given he will do so (h/t Lakers Daily).
“Hayes wants to return to the Lakers, but if he gets a significant offer—with more playing time—he would have to take it,” Deveney wrote.
Hayes just completed his third season with the Lakers. This season, he posted 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes a game. While he hasn’t developed the way some thought he could in his seven years in the NBA, he is a springy lob threat, which makes him, at least in that regard, the type of center Luka Doncic wants to play with.
Los Angeles is projected to have roughly $50 million in salary cap space this offseason, but it will look to use at least some of it to re-sign some of its own free agents, including but not limited to LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Given how strong the center position is league-wide, it may be beneficial for L.A. to have three men on its roster who can play the 5 spot.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider: Jaxson Hayes wants to stay with the Lakers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
