The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world at the trade deadline by acquiring Luka Doncic. The 25-year-old superstar suited up for two games for the Lakers before the All-Star break, and the fans can't wait to see more of the Doncic-James duo for the rest of the season.
The rest of the season will also be a crucial time for a few Lakers. This is a new-look Lakers and players have to figure out how to fit around Doncic and James to be an important part of the rotation and stay on the team beyond this season. Let's take a look at five players with the most to prove after the All-Star break.
1. Jaxson Hayes
After the Anthony Davis trade, Jaxson Hayes has been pushed into a larger role with the team. He has started the last seven games and has played over 20 minutes in each of those starts until the last game against the Jazz, in which he only played for seven minutes. The fact that Hayes saw his minutes cut significantly in the first game Len suited up for the Lakers is not a good sign for his future.
On paper, Hayes is a good fit to play next to Luka Doncic. He is a solid rim runner and lob threat. He can finish around the rim and has decent length. Yet, he is not the defensive force the Lakers need from that position.
While Hayes can protect the rim, he is not strong enough against the best centers. He is also not a good enough defender to switch and survive on the perimeter. Considering that he is a one-dimensional finisher on the offensive end, there is simply not much Hayes brings to the table.
Hayes is on an expiring contract and is playing for his job in the final two months of the season. If he can't make a consistent impact in his minutes, the Lakers will surely look to replace him in the offseason.