JJ Redick, Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts after his team is called for a foul.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be shorthanded in the frontcourt as they attempt to steady themselves after a humiliating home collapse.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been downgraded to out for Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic, according to the NBA’s official injury report, dealing another blow to a rotation already under strain.
The downgrade comes one day after head coach JJ Redick described Hayes as day-to-day following imaging on his right ankle.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported Monday that the tests revealed only a minor issue, but the Lakers ultimately opted for caution.
“JJ Redick says Jaxson Hayes received imaging on his right ankle Monday, which showed a ‘small bruise,’” McMenamin reported on X. “Redick said Hayes is day-to-day going forward and assumed the backup center would be listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. ORL.”
Instead, Hayes will miss the matchup entirely.
Hayes Exited Early in Embarrassing Celtics Loss
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GettyThe latest Jaxson Hayes injury update is bad news for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hayes sustained the injury during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, logging just five minutes before being ruled out in the first half. He finished with two points and one rebound as the Lakers unraveled in a stunning 111–89 defeat.
Before exiting, Hayes had been one of Los Angeles’ steadier contributors off the bench, averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. While not a focal point, his absence thins an already fragile frontcourt rotation and removes a key vertical spacer and rim runner.
Los Angeles enters Tuesday fifth in the Western Conference at 34–22, but momentum has stalled sharply following Sunday’s no-show.
The loss carried added sting given the circumstances. It came on the same night the franchise unveiled a statue honoring Pat Riley — and against a Celtics team still missing Jayson Tatum.
Hayes’ Quiet Off-Court Move Adds Long-Term Twist
Despite the short-term setback, Hayes may have quietly strengthened his long-term outlook in Los Angeles.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed earlier this month that Hayes has completed the paperwork to become a naturalized Slovenian citizen, making him eligible to play for Slovenia alongside Luka Dončić in international competition.
“Jaxson Hayes completed the paperwork to become a Slovenian,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. “He can join the Slovenian national team for Luka, which I’d like to say is one of the smartest things Jaxson Hayes has ever done.”
Hayes originally joined the Lakers in 2023 on a two-year, $4.6 million deal before returning last offseason on a one-year, $3.4 million contract. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Hayes and Dončić also share the same agent, Bill Duffy of WME Sports, further linking their professional paths.
Back in October, Hayes explained his motivation for pursuing Slovenian eligibility.
“They came to me with the idea,” Hayes said at the time. “USA doesn’t do open tryouts, and I just wanted to play on that stage.”
Lakers’ Focus Remains Immediate
Even if Hayes’ long-term future ultimately extends beyond Los Angeles, the Lakers’ immediate concern is far more pressing: getting healthy, responding to internal criticism, and proving Sunday’s collapse was an aberration — not a warning sign.
Tuesday night against Orlando, they’ll try to do it without one of their few true big men available.