7 Most Likely Lakers To Be Traded Before the 2024-25 NBA Season

Jaxson Hayes

The Lakers desperately need to find a proper backup center behind Anthony Davis as Jaxson Hayes proved that he is not that guy. On paper, he was solid, playing in 70 games and putting up efficient numbers. However, when it was playoff time, Hayes was nowhere to be seen.

As long and athletic as he is, Hayes doesn't make much of an impact on either end of the floor. He is not strong enough to compete against the big brute centers and he doesn't have enough offensive versatility to finish anything but lobs.

Considering how big of an injury risk Anthony Davis can be, the Lakers can't enter another season with Hayes as his backup. They were fortunate enough last season that Davis had the healthiest season of his career last year but relying on that would be a big mistake.

Jalen Hood-Schifino

This list has just been a list of misses by the Lakers front office in recent years. Los Angeles drafted Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick in 2023. Three players selected right after him: Jaime Jaquez Jr, Brandin Podziemski, and Cam Whitmore. Every single one of them has shown more than Hood-Schifino in their rookie years and have brighter futures.

That doesn't mean that Hood-Schifino is a bust. He can still have a career in the NBA but it's unlikely that it will be in Los Angeles. He needs playing time on a developmental team and the Lakers can't provide him that. Before his trade value goes any lower due to lack of playing time, it makes more sense to include him in a trade package as a sweetener in exchange for a veteran.