In the final game of the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason, there was a slight moment of panic for the team. Backup center Jaxson Hayes came up hurt after a dunk attempt, going to the bench after. Afterwards, it was revealed that the center had a wrist contusion and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
“Lakers say Jaxson Hayes has a right wrist contusion and is out for the remainder of tonight’s preseason game,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported last night.
Dave McMenamin later reported that the X-Rays on Hayes' wrist came up negative. The Lakers will have a better update on the center's status for their regular-season debut in the next few days as Hayes undergoes more tests to determine his injury.
The Lakers' center position has been a huge topic since last season. After trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, that position has been a constant weak point for the team. Hayes struggled as a starter at times for Los Angeles, eventually leading to him getting benched in their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Los Angeles tried to address this issue during the offseason. They acquired former first overall pick DeAndre Ayton to presumably be the starter for the team. Hayes was relegated to the backup role, a role where does seem more comfortable in. Should Hayes end up missing time to start the year, former Maverick Maxi Kleber will be the primary backup to Ayton.
Unfortunately, Hayes' potential absence won't be the biggest injury for the Lakers coming into the season. LeBron James is projected to be out until mid-November as he works through some back issues. With the NBA legend out for some time, it's up to Luka Doncic and the rest of the Lakers staff to have a good start and give James enough time to recuperate.
