Lakers News: First Look At New LA Free Agent Signing In Practice Space

Can he live up to his role with LA this season?

The Lakers roster will look a little different when the season kicks off. They did bring back multiple players from the core last year but they also added a few new guys to add to the rotation. Alongside Anthony Davis in the frontcourt will be former New Orleans Pelican Jaxson Hayes, who signed a two-year deal with LA this offseason.

Hayes will back up Davis and provides the team with a high upside, low-risk type of signing. He won’t be asked to do much within this LA system, as he just needs to play defense, rebound the ball and catch lob passes on offense. LA is excited to see him on the team being he is a high-flyer and is uber-athletic for a center.

Hayes was recently spotted working out at the Lakers facility this summer, and it’s the first look at the newest signing for LA.

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If Hayes can continue to work on his game, the Lakers will benefit from it. He isn’t much of a threat from anywhere past the painted area, and that is okay. LA needs him to stay in the paint and do as simple of a job as possible.

Hayes was mainly a limited bench player during last season with New Orleans, only averaging five points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He only played 13 minutes a game and was relegated to being off the court most of the time. He is hopeful that a bigger role with LA can help increase his value, and get his career back on track.

If Hayes can do the job that the Lakers need him to, it will be beneficial to both sides. He is still very young and can reenter free agency next season with his player option. This could be a very big year for his career, and at least so far Hayes seems up for the challenge. 

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