With Anthony Davis shipped to Dallas in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade and the Lakers pulling out of a deal for Mark Williams, Jaxson Hayes was suddenly thrust into a role he wasn’t quite ready for — starting center. And fans weren’t thrilled. Hayes struggled in the playoffs, drawing criticism for his lack of physicality and presence in the paint. As Robert Marvi put it, “he simply lacks the girth and strength” to be a defensive anchor. Even NBA reporter Anthony Irwin noted that the Lakers are already weighing how Hayes might respond to a potential demotion. But amid all the doubt, one teammate is still in his corner: Austin Reaves.

The Lakers’ starting shooting guard was recently interviewed by ‘Lakers Nation’. During the same, he defended Hayes by stating “that first, you know, month or whatever, when Luka got there, Jaxson was one of our most, you know, important players. And he was playing at such a high level, and then, obviously, when you have a couple games that don’t go your way and, you know, kind of rotations, twists and change, then everybody wants to, you know, jump down and be like ‘Jaxson’s horrible’”. For Reaves, Hayes was one of the best players on the Lakers squad during the 2-month stretch when the team built up their position on the points table.

Austin Reaves knows the Lakers’ front office—led by Rob Pelinka—is actively hunting for a dependable center this offseason. But rather than seeing Jaxson Hayes shipped off in a trade to make that happen, Reaves hopes the Lakers add a big man who can complement the 25-year-old, not replace him.

Speaking on the team’s needs, Reaves said, “I think it’s really just having another form of big… Jaxson’s the lob threat—very athletic. Isn’t that physical, but can make up for it in different ways. But then, if you have a different big that has size and strength, and can kind of bang down low, then you can play so many different kinds of ways.” Versatility, not subtraction, is what Reaves is advocating for—and it’s clear he believes a more diverse frontcourt can unlock more options for the Lakers.

It is no secret that not having a reliable Center cost the Lakers big. After all, while LeBron James and Luka Doncic kept things covered on the offensive front, the team’s defense could have been better. Even the Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon, despite suffering from a hamstring injury, reportedly recorded more rebounds in Game 7 of the Nuggets-OKC series than Jaxson Hayes had in the Lakers’ entire first-round run.

Hayes had lost the team’s confidence even before the postseason. After all, while he was averaging 19.5 minutes per game in the regular season, the same stat dropped to 7.8 minutes per game during the Lakers-Timberwolves series. Hayes didn’t play at all in Game 5 of the Lakers-Timberwolves series, which became a clear sign that JJ Redick didn’t wish to rely on him during important matchups.

According to Austin Reaves, the Lakers threw Jaxson Hayes under the bus by initiating a conversation to bring on a new center to the team. He believes that, with Hayes, the team already has everything. Unfortunately, the last few games of the Lakers proved otherwise. Nevertheless, Reaves having his teammate’s back is what sportsmanship is all about.

Some might say that Reaves is being a good teammate. However, by defending Jaxson Hayes, he might very well be protecting his future, too. After all, if recent reports are to be believed, then the Lakers’ efforts to get a better option than Hayes will cost the team Reaves.

Will Austin Reaves be traded to the Utah Jazz to get Jaxson Hayes’ replacement?

In a recent segment of “Buha’s Block”, Lakers insider Jovan Buha proposed a potential trade package. The same, of course, included Austin Reaves. After all, currently holding a 4-year, $53.8 million contract, the Lakers guard has been described to be “grossly underpaid” for the value he brings to the court. With an opportunity to test free agency next summer, the Lakers could very well lose him. Therefore, to make the best use of his current availability, the team could trade him in the coming weeks. Buha believes that if the star player should go anywhere, it should be the Utah Jazz.

The NBA reporter proposed a trade that would see the Los Angeles Lakers receive Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and two second-round picks in exchange for Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and Maxi Kleber. On top of that, protections would also be removed on the 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 pick swap would also be included in the deal. This proposal was made around the same time Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast endorsed an Austin Reaves trade to the Jazz. After all, according to him, “He fits the age timeline, he’s [a] perfect fit in Utah for myriad reasons.”

Walker Kessler could very well be the Center who can fill the leftover gap from Anthony Davis’ exit. Kessler had averaged 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds last season, along with 2.4 blocks per game. With a 7-foot stature and a sturdy frame, he could perform well alongside Luka Doncic. Losing Austin Reaves is a big gamble. At the same time, priorities have to be set, and the Lakers’ current priority is the need for a big man. Therefore, it will be interesting to watch whether Rob Pelinka and co will choose to sacrifice Reaves to make a difference at the Center spot.