Lakers center Jaxson Hayes agrees to $12 million deal with Utah

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The dominoes of the Lakers’ offseason continue to fall into place. 

Backup big man Jaxson Hayes is heading to the Jazz on a two-year deal.

ESPN first reported that Hayes is signing for $12 million across the two years, with a team option on the second season. 

Source: The Jazz are signing former Lakers center Jaxson Hayes to a two-year, $12 million deal. The second season is a team option.

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Hayes joined LeBron James (next team to be determined), Marcus Smart (Rockets) and Luke Kennard (Suns) as Lakers from last season who are known to be leaving the team.

Rui Hachimura is also expected to leave in unrestricted free agency. 

Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 draft, spent three seasons with the Lakers (2023-26) after starting his career with the Pelicans.

He averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds during his Lakers tenure, including 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 66 regular season games as the backup big in 2025-26.

Hayes, who shares an agent in Bill Duffy with Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and center Deandre Ayton, was expected to return to the Lakers.

He even got a Slovenian passport to play alongside Doncic on the national team.

But with the Lakers’ widespread moves, adding Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million) in a sign-and-trade from the Jazz, Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), left little room for Hayes.