(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers offered former lottery pick Jaxson Hayes a minimum contract last summer with the incentive that he could opt in for the coming season.
Still only 24, the center showed some promise in limited minutes, averaging 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 70 games.
With the potential to develop into a much better player, it is unsurprising that Hayes wants to remain in LA despite the possibility of better offers elsewhere.
Shams Charania revealed via The Athletic that Hayes is exercising his $2.4 million option to remain with the Lakers for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes is exercising his $2.4 million player option to return for the 2024-25 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Hayes reunites with new coach JJ Redick. pic.twitter.com/FCmbZAWwoK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2024
Hayes is vocal about enjoying learning from and playing with Anthony Davis last year, and now he’s made it clear that he wants to continue that budding relationship.
However, there are no guarantees that the backup center will remain with the team, as management wants to upgrade the position and could use Hayes and other young players as trade bait.
Hayes struggled with finding playing minutes early last season but stepped up when his role under the former regime increased.
With J.J. Redick as the new head coach and superstar LeBron James in the twilight of his career, team officials feel the pressure to keep the window for potentially another NBA title propped open.
Therefore, it would not be surprising to see a package deal emerge in LA that would bring another significant piece of the puzzle to town.
Hayes is still relatively young and possesses an interesting upside, so there will likely be suitors elsewhere who would bet on his potential in the middle.
The post Jaxson Hayes Has Made A Decision About His Contract appeared first on The Cold Wire.