Former lottery pick Jaxson Hayes leaves Pelicans behind, inks contract with Lakers

Jaxson Hayes, former New Orleans Pelicans player, signs with Los Angeles Lakers.

Jaxson Hayes, the former lottery pick, is bidding farewell to New Orleans as he embarks on a new journey with the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN reports that Hayes has signed a two-year deal with the Lakers, marking the end of his time with the Pelicans.

The Pelicans initially selected Hayes as the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. This pick came as a result of a trade with the Lakers involving Anthony Davis. In exchange for Davis, the Lakers had to relinquish their fourth overall pick in 2019. The Pelicans then used this pick to trade down and acquire the eighth, seventeenth, and thirty-fifth selections. With these picks, they drafted Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Didi Louzada, although none of them remain on the Pelicans' current roster.

During his tenure with the Pelicans, Hayes played in 47 games last season, which marked his lowest number of appearances in his four years with the team. Interestingly, Hayes found his stride when playing as a power forward rather than a center. Following the All-Star break in 2022, he started several games at power forward while Zion Williamson was sidelined due to a foot injury. This unique lineup, featuring Hayes and Jonas Valanciunas in the frontcourt, contributed to the Pelicans' playoff run.

Hayes entered the NBA after spending a single season at the University of Texas. At the time of his draft, he was only 19 years old, and his youth and immaturity occasionally surfaced. In his rookie season, he was not selected for the NBA's Rising Stars roster. Furthermore, a video leaked online showing Hayes uttering inappropriate remarks about the NBA.

Last summer, Hayes faced legal consequences following a scuffle with police officers who responded to a domestic violence call in Los Angeles. He received a sentence of three years of probation, 450 hours of community service, and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.

The Pelicans recently decided not to extend Hayes the qualifying offer, which would have made him a restricted free agent. As a result, Hayes became a free agent and ultimately made the decision to join the Lakers.

With the signing of forward Herb Jones to a four-year, $54 million deal, the Pelicans have limited financial flexibility under the NBA's luxury tax line. To stay under this line and complete their roster, they will need to explore potential trades and maneuver accordingly.

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