Report: Jaxson Hayes wants to return to Lakers in free agency

Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be leaving Los Angeles.

“Hayes wants to return to the Lakers, but if he gets a significant offer—with more playing time—he would have to take it,” Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney wrote.

Hayes has been a staple in the Lakers’ rotation the last few years, appearing in 70 games in the 2023-24 season, 56 games (35 starts) in the 2024-25 season and 66 games in the 2025-26 season.

In the 2025-26 campaign, Hayes started just nine games, but he did play 18.3 minutes per game for Los Angeles. The center averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 75.6 percent from the field.

Hayes is a solid lob threat and rim runner for the Lakers down low, and it would make sense for Los Angeles to bring him back at a reasonable number given the team’s lack of depth at center.

Deandre Ayton has a player option for the 2026-27 season with Los Angeles, but the former No. 1 overall pick didn’t exactly turn heads with his play this season, especially in the team’s playoff run.

Hayes appeared in all 10 of the Lakers’ postseason games in the 2025-26 season, averaging 16.3 minutes, 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

The Lakers have a big offseason ahead as they look to improve their roster around Luka Doncic. Austin Reaves (player option) can opt out of his current deal while LeBron James is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

So, Hayes is one of many players that Los Angeles has to make a decision on for the 2026-27 season and beyond.

A lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Hayes has mainly been a bench player in his career, starting just 96 of the 433 regular-season games that he’s appeared in. Still, he is a younger player (25 years old) that could be a long-term rotation piece for the Lakers if they decide to bring him back for a fourth season.

Since Hayes hasn’t exactly put up numbers that make him worthy of a starting spot on a playoff-caliber team, it’s hard to imagine a team going above and beyond to outbid the Lakers for the center’s services this offseason.