29 articles
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
6 days ago
As expected, Hayes will be available after initially being listed as probable. He’ll fill out the backup center minutes behind Deandre Ayton once again, which isn’t enough time for Hayes to make an impact.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
7 days ago
Hayes tweaked his right ankle during Monday’s win over the Trail Blazers, but the probable tag suggests he’ll be available to play. With starting center Deandre Ayton available, however, Hayes is unlikely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball.
Source: Edwin Garcia
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
9 days ago
The Lakers are without Deandre Ayton, who will sit due to back spasms. Hayes has replaced him in the starting lineup, but he offers a limited fantasy ceiling when thrust into this role. At best, Hayes is worth streaming for managers hoping for a “Hail Mary” in the field-goal percentage category. The Lakers’ other four starters are unchanged from Friday’s win over the Grizzlies.
Source: NBA Lineups
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
14 days ago
Hayes will return from a three-game absence and should fill out the backup center minutes behind Deandre Ayton. Jarred Vanderbilt had been filling that role in a smaller lineup, and he should still play plenty of minutes, just not at center.
Source: Mike Trudell
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
14 days ago
Hayes has missed the Lakers’ last three games, resulting in Jarred Vanderbilt playing the center position when starter Deandre Ayton was on the bench. If Hayes cannot play again, that should remain the arrangement on Wednesday. Vanderbilt started Monday’s loss to the Trail Blazers, as the Lakers were without Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent. He’s worth streaming when allowed to start.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
15 days ago
Hayes will miss a third straight game, which means Jarred Vanderbilt will fill out the center minutes when Deandre Ayton isn’t on the floor. Ayton is coming off his best game as a Laker and will look to carry that momentum into a matchup with his former team.
Source: Mike Trudell
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
16 days ago
Due to a sore left knee, Hayes was not in uniform for a second consecutive game. His absence meant more minutes for starter Deandre Ayton (22/15/2/1/1), who played 36 and had arguably his best game of the season’s first week. The Lakers went small when Ayton was not on the floor, using Jarred Vanderbilt (9/5/2/2 in 27 minutes) at the five. Expect a similar approach if Hayes cannot play in Monday’s game against the Trail Blazers.
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
17 days ago
Hayes missed Friday’s game, which resulted in Jarred Vanderbilt filling most of the center minutes when Deandre Ayton was sidelined. If Hayes remains out, Vanderbilt will likely occupy that role again, where he contributed seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the Lakers’ win over Minnesota.
Source: Khobi Price
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
18 days ago
Hayes has been downgraded from questionable to out, leaving him unavailable on Friday for the first time in this young NBA season. After starting 35 of 56 games last regular season, the seventh-year center has begun the 2025-26 campaign as a reserve, with newly acquired Deandre Ayton taking over the starting center spot for the Lakers. Hayes logged just 14 minutes off the bench in the opener against the Warriors on Tuesday. Christian Koloko could see more action against Minnesota in Hayes’ absence.
Source: Mike Trudell
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
18 days ago
Hayes popped up on the injury report late in the afternoon on Friday, so his chances of taking the court against Minnesota are certainly up in the air. If he’s unable to go, Jarred Vanderbilt would presumably see an uptick in playing time behind starter Deandre Ayton.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
22 days ago
Hayes was forced to prematurely exit Friday’s preseason finale due to a right wrist injury. However, it wasn’t a serious injury, as evidenced by his absence from the injury report for Tuesday’s opener. Hayes will serve as Deandre Ayton’s backup and is not worth the risk in most fantasy leagues.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
25 days ago
While it’s unknown exactly when Hayes injured his right wrist during the first half, the Lakers center did throw down multiple dunks in his eight minutes of action. Shooting 3-of-4 from the field, he finished with six points, four rebounds and one steal. Hayes will be the backup center when the regular season begins, so a potential absence would have minimal impact on fantasy basketball.
Source: Khobi Price
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
27 days ago
Hayes started at center for the Lakers in this game with Deandre Ayton sitting out the second night of the preseason back-to-back. He returned to the Lakers on a one-year deal and should fill out the reserve minutes for them this season, which won’t leave him an opportunity to have nights like this one often.
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
4 months ago
Hayes appeared in 56 games for the Lakers last season, making 35 starts. However, his role will be different in 2025-26, as Deandre Ayton has agreed to a two-year deal and will be the starting center. Hayes finished last season with averages of 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks on 19.5 minutes per game. He did not provide consistent fantasy value as a starter, which should remain the case now that Hayes will be coming off the bench.
Source: Shams Charania
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
4 months ago
Hayes appeared in 56 games for the Lakers last season, making 35 starts. However, his role will be different in 2025-26, as Deandre Ayton has agreed to a two-year deal and will be the starting center. Hayes finished last season with averages of 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks on 19.5 minutes per game. He did not provide consistent fantasy value as a starter, which should remain the case now that Hayes will be coming off the bench.
Source: Shams Charania
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
7 months ago
Both players will be good to go in the regular season finale for the Lakers, which won’t have an impact on the standings with LA having already clinched the third seed in the West. Both Hayes and Goodwin should start with the Lakers playing without multiple starters, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Source: Khobi Price
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
7 months ago
The Lakers secured the third seed in the West with their win over the Rockets on Friday. Sunday’s rotation will look nothing like the core that will take center stage in the postseason next weekend. If Hayes and Vanderbilt do not play on Sunday, Trey Jemison is one of the frontcourt players who will figure more prominently in the rotation.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Sunday’s win over the Suns was Hayes’ first since missing four with a knee injury, and he played 29 minutes. His availability for the Lakers’ second game in as many nights is a good sign regarding Hayes’ health. Look for Hayes to approach 30 minutes, and he can provide deep-league value with LeBron James (groin) still out.
Source: Jovan Buha
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
In his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for four games, Hayes outplayed his Suns counterparts on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers center recorded a complete stat line, minus three-pointers, shooting 80 percent from the field. The foul shooting was poor, but that’s usually a category the few managers who have Hayes rostered will have to punt. The Lakers play four games during Week 20, starting with the Spurs on Monday.
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes is back in the lineup after missing the Lakers’ last four games with a knee injury. His return should push Alex Len back to the bench, though he was ineffective as a starter. Christian Koloko will also lose out on some minutes.
Source: NBA Injury Report
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes will join LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith on the sideline, which means Jarred Vanderbilt should start at center. Trey Jemison could see some extra work off the bench with so many Lakers out of action, but Jemison is a risky streaming option.
Source: Jovan Buha on Twitter
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes did not play in Saturday’s loss to the Celtics, with Jarred Vanderbilt replacing him in the starting lineup. And even if Hayes returns, Vanderbilt could remain in the lineup since the Lakers will be without LeBron James (groin) and have Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) on a questionable tag. Even with the limited offense, Vanderbilt is worth streaming.
Source: Mike Trudell
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes was listed as doubtful earlier in the day, so this update isn’t surprising. Expect Trey Jemison and Jarred Vanderbilt to see additional playing time against the Celtics.
Source: https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-03-08_07PM.pdf
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes suffered a right knee contusion late in Thursday’s win over the Knicks, hence his inclusion on the injury report. While the Lakers have Trey Jemison to absorb some of the minutes if Hayes cannot play, they can also employ center-less lineups thanks to Dorian Finney-Smith (who’s already starting) and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Source: Trevor Lane
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
8 months ago
Hayes didn’t miss a shot on Tuesday, and the double-double was his second of the season. While adding Luka Doncic to the Lakers roster hasn’t improved Hayes’ fantasy value much, he has shot 80.4 percent from the field since February 10 (Luka’s Lakers debut). Despite being a starter, Hayes isn’t consistently productive as a scorer or rebounder, which has limited his value to fantasy managers.
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
9 months ago
Upgraded from questionable to probable earlier Friday evening, Hayes is officially available to play. He’ll occupy his usual place in the starting lineup, meaning the only change will be Dorian Finney-Smith stepping in for the injured Rui Hachimura (knee). Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James complete the starting five.
Source: Mark Medina
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
9 months ago
Hayes is dealing with a left hip contusion, but is trending in the right direction ahead of Friday’s game against the Clippers. It seems likely that the 24-year-old center will suit up and start opposite the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac Friday.
LAL • Center-Forward • #11
9 months ago
Hayes is questionable with a left hip contusion. The Lakers need all the help they can get in the low post with the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac on the docket Friday. Alex Len and Jarred Vanderbilt would pick up the slack if Hayes is ruled out.