Blink and the NBA season will pass by your eyes very quickly. The Los Angeles Lakers have already played 15 games in 2025-26. With every passing matchup the calendar ticks closer and closer to in-season trades. Jaxson Hayes should be paying close attention to that loud clock in the background.
Given the timing of when Hayes re-upped with Los Angeles in the offseason, there is less than one month left until Rob Pelinka can start properly exploring whether the frontcourt needs help. Hayes will be trade eligible on Dec. 15. That same is true of a ton of backup center options to replace him.
It is important to remember that Hayes waived the potential no-trade clause that could have been his when the Lakers center re-signed with the franchise. That means there is nothing stopping the front office from bringing him up in discussions that may pop up.
The question now is whether Hayes has done enough to secure his spot as the backup center for the Lakers. If not, the discussion then shifts to what needs to be done for the former lottery pick to say put where he is.
Jaxson Hayes' future in Los Angeles remains murky — but not hopeless
Could the Lakers benefit from a better backup than Hayes at the five spot? Probably. Has Hayes been terrible in the role? No, he hasn't.
Serviceable feels like a fair way to describe Hayes to this point in the season. The Lakers center is not the most inspiring option, by any means, but there is certainly no feeling of him being totally unplayable for Los Angeles.
Hayes has averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game off the bench for the Lakers. His chemistry with Luka Doncic as a rim runner and play finisher remains evident, with the backup big man shooting a strong 71.1 percent from the field on 3.2 attempts per game.
The main concern for the job security of Hayes is nothing truly makes him irreplaceable at the job. One would imagine if there is a clear and easy opportunity to get an upgrade in the frontcourt, without gutting the asset pool entirely, Pelinka takes it.
There have been encouraging improvements from Hayes. 4.3 personal fouls per 100 possessions is the lowest rate of his career. Even so, given how much Doncic thrives with having two strong center options up front, that will be an area to watch once trade talks truly open for this season.