Lakers News: JJ Redick Reveals Plan for Replacing Injured Jaxson Hayes

The Los Angeles big man got injured in a team practice.

Feb 28, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick (4) and center Jaxson Hayes (10) enter the court before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images / Chuck Cook-Imagn Images

In light of a recent ankle injury to Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick intends to play two-way center Christian Koloko as All-NBA starter Anthony Davis' primary backup.

Read More: Los Angeles Big Man Set to Miss Time with Ankle Injury

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Redick had been excited about Hayes' recent play, making the timing of the ailment especially unfortunate.

“Disappointed," Redick said (per Buha). "Feel for Jaxson, especially after the last two games he had for us.”

Presumably this plan of Koloko suiting up for Hayes will be in effect when Los Angeles squares off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. PT.

The 7-foot-1 Arizona product has only suited up for two bouts thus far with his new squad. He's averaging 1.0 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, 1.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 blocks a night.

Koloko was selected with the No. 33 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors.

Across 58 contests with Toronto in 2022-23 (19 starts), the defense-first big man averaged 3.1 points on 48 percent shooting from the floor and 62.7 percent shooting from the charity stripe, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.5 assists a night. He missed all of the 2023-24 season after being felled by blood clotting issues. Toronto cut him during the season. After being medically cleared to play, Koloko inked a two-way deal with the Lakers this offseason, while still waiting for the NBA proper to give him the official league green light to play.

Although the Grizzlies will be missing a key big man in Brandon Clarke, their primary absences tonight will arrive along the perimeter, as starting point guard Ja Morant and starting shooting guard Desmond Bane will both be shelved. Starting small forward Marcus Smart is questionable to suit up.

A 7-footer out of Texas, Hayes is averaging 6.3 points on 70.6 percent field goal shooting and 78.9 percent free throw shooting, 4.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 steals a night across 17.5 minutes per. Across Hayes' aforementioned last two healthy games, he averaged 10.0 points on 70 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent shooting from the foul line, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 0.5 assists a game. His upside as a rim protector (as evinced by that blocking average) remains enticing.

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