The Los Angeles Lakers had one clear goal to accomplish ahead of the NBA trade deadline; find a suitable center who could band-aid the frontcourt in the space Anthony Davis once occupied before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
They thought they had achieved this when trading Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets. But LA nullified the trade after some dubious results from medical testing. That happened after the trade deadline had passed, leaving the Lakers to shop the buyout market and test the free-agent waters.
The Lakers were able to land center Alex Len in that pursuit. While not the splash addition they wanted to make, Len could come off the bench to assist Jaxson Hayes with the “five” duties. But after suffering a facial contusion, Los Angeles may be forced to rely more heavily on Len than first anticipated, until Hayes heals.
Jaxson Hayes Leaves Los Angeles Lakers Game With Face Injury
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, starting center Jaxson Hayes was ruled out for the second half of the game after suffering a facial contusion in the first.
“Jaxson Hayes will not return for the second half because of a facial contusion, the Lakers say,” McMenamin wrote on X.
The timing of the injury works in the Lakers favor, as they are off until Feb. 19 because of the All-Star festivities. Hayes will likely miss two weeks, likely making his return against the Mavericks or Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Hayes has proven to be a valuable asset, particularly as Anthony Davis’ understudy. His consistent effort and athleticism have been on full display this season, averaging a respectable 5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game in 30 appearances.
Len was far from impressive in his Lakers debut. He struggled to find his footing, finishing with only four points and two assists. His seven boards were more a product of a combined 51 missed shots than a superb effort. The Lakers were outscored by 19 points during Len’s 14 minutes.