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The Los Angeles Lakers had a solid first day of free agency. They upgraded at the wing and forward spots by signing 6-foot-7 Taurean Prince, a 3-and-D player, and by taking a chance on former lottery pick Cam Reddish, a player they have targeted for a while.
They added Gabe Vincent, a plucky guard who just helped the Miami Heat reach the NBA Finals. Additionally, they re-signed Rui Hachimura, one of the key midseason acquisitions that turned the 2022-23 campaign around for them and one of their biggest priorities this offseason.
However, a big hole remained at the center spot. Anthony Davis was their only player under contract who could ably play the position.
In an attempt to fill that hole, Los Angeles agreed to a two-year deal with center Jaxson Hayes.
Free agent center Jaxson Hayes has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Hayes hasn’t put up big numbers in his four NBA seasons, but at 6-foot-11, he is an active center who can rebound, play a little defense and finish strong at the rim off lob passes.