The Los Angeles Lakers may launch a massive offseason reset, and the first major changes may begin internally. Amidst a series of uncertainties around LeBron James and Austin Reaves’ contracts, the team is also in the middle of a center hunt. Interestingly, this involves Luka Doncic‘s latest Slovenian teammate, Jaxson Hayes.

Jaxson Hayes enters free agency on a cheap $3.5M tag with only a 2.7% cap hit, yet the Lakers already look ready to keep him around. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin believes Hayes practically has one foot back in Los Angeles because the Lakers desperately need size.

Plus, Hayes shares a strong connection with Luka Doncic through the Slovenian national team after securing citizenship to represent the country earlier in April.

Meanwhile, Hayes quietly built a strong case late in the season. He earned only about $3M last year, which suddenly looks like a steal for a team hunting affordable depth. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he exploded for a playoff career-high 18 points in Game 4.

Even more impressive, Hayes stood alone as the only Lakers reserve to crack double digits in that game. With center topping the offseason wishlist, his return feels increasingly inevitable.

Most importantly, Hayes doesn’t want to leave the Lakers despite free agency.

“Hayes wants to return to the Lakers, but if he gets a significant offer—with more playing time—he would have to take it,” Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney reported.

But here’s the bigger question: Why should LA keep the 25-year-old?

Jaxson Hayes has quietly become one of the Lakers’ most reliable rotation pieces. Across three seasons, he suited up for 70 games in 2023-24, 56 games with 35 starts in 2024-25.

Another 66 appearances in 2025-26. Although he started only nine games this season, Hayes still logged 18.3 minutes nightly while averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks on a scorching 75.6% shooting clip. His chemistry with Luka Doncic also flashed through constant lob finishes and rim-running chaos.

Meanwhile, the Lakers’ center situation keeps getting murkier. Deandre Ayton holds a player option for 2026-27, yet his playoff struggles raised serious questions.

Hayes stayed available all 10 playoff games (5.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg in 16.3 min), unlike Reaves and LeBron’s uncertain futures. Austin Reaves could hit free agency soon. Meanwhile, LeBron James also faces an uncertain future in Los Angeles.

Now, the 7-foot star entered the NBA as a 2019 lottery pick. But his career has largely unfolded as an energy piece off the bench. Across 433 regular-season games, he has started only 96, which makes his role pretty clear around the league.

However, Hayes gives the Lakers youth, athleticism, and long-term depth at center. More importantly, rival teams may hesitate to overspend this summer because his production hasn’t fully screamed starting-caliber anchor for a serious playoff contender.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers might want to look into their Giannis Antetokounmpo dream team again. Many voices around the league feel that the Greek star might end up alongside Luka Doncic next season.

Is a Luka Doncic-Giannis Antetokounmpo pair brewing in silence?

Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-L.A. chatter keeps picking up steam. Now, NBA players themselves are fueling it. In an anonymous poll by The Athletic featuring 151 votes, five players predicted the Milwaukee Bucks superstar could open the 2026-27 season with the Lakers.

However, the gamble comes with massive questions. Antetokounmpo remained dominant when healthy, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4% from the field.

However, injuries limited him to only 36 games in 2025-26. Meanwhile, Los Angeles already faces growing pressure after a second-round exit. A Brutal Western Conference competition from OKC and San Antonio compounds pressure.

But the Lakers’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dream could create a major Luka Doncic dilemma. A Western Conference executive believes the Lakers want to center their future around Doncic and Austin Reaves. Especially with Reaves potentially entering free agency.

Antetokounmpo remains the one superstar exception worth chasing. However, outside of a blockbuster move for him, Los Angeles plans to get younger, faster, and more compatible with a Doncic-Reaves foundation moving forward.

Most importantly, a recent report by The Athletic suggested that Doncic was clear in his mind.

“Doncic has made it clear to the Lakers that he would like to continue playing with Reaves,” the report stated. “Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Doncic told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.”

So, the Lakers have reached a crossroads, and Luka Doncic sits at the center of every decision. Jaxson Hayes feels like the safe answer for stability. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the risky swing that could reshape everything.