By Bilal Ahmed
The Utah Jazz have acquired center Jaxson Hayes from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, signing him to a multi-year contract. This move occurred on the same day the Lakers traded for Jazz center Walker Kessler. The deal for Hayes is reportedly for two years and worth $12 million, with the second year being a team option.
Hayes, a seven-foot player, spent the last three seasons with the Lakers after playing his first four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans. During the 2025-26 NBA season, he participated in 66 games, averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks. He also averaged 6.2 points and just under four rebounds per game across his tenure with the Lakers.
Hayes joins Jazz after Kessler departure
The signing of Jaxson Hayes by the Jazz follows their decision to part ways with Walker Kessler. The Jazz sent Kessler to Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade agreement earlier in the day. This trade involved the Lakers giving up two unprotected first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2033, along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
According to reports, the Lakers had been expected to retain Hayes, especially after he became a Slovenian citizen to play alongside Luka Doncic in FIBA competition. However, the Jazz secured him with their two-year, $12 million offer. The Lakers, after their spending spree to acquire Kessler, reportedly had limited salary cap space to match the Jazz’s offer for Hayes.
Hayes was a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite his high draft position, he did not fully establish himself as a long-term starter with the Pelicans, appearing in 241 games over four seasons and starting a maximum of 28 games in any single campaign. He later joined the Lakers as a reserve big man.
Impact on team depth and future plans
The acquisition of Hayes provides the Jazz with additional depth at the center position. He is expected to be the team’s third-string center, behind Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic. The Jazz are reportedly betting that a new environment and increased opportunity following Kessler’s departure could help Hayes reach his potential, which was noted for his length, athleticism, and rim-running ability.
For the Lakers, the departure of Hayes means they will need to find another backup center behind Walker Kessler. While Deandre Ayton is also on the roster, reports suggest he may be traded at some point. The Lakers had reportedly planned for Hayes to be their backup big man for the upcoming season.
The move by the Jazz to sign Hayes has been seen by some as a strategic counter-move after the Kessler trade. The Jazz reportedly aimed to extract maximum value from the trade with the Lakers, which included securing the draft picks and then signing Hayes. This signing also separates Luka Doncic from his recent Slovenian national team teammate, Hayes. The Salt Lake City Summer League is scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 4, featuring the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
