The door is wide open for underutilized Lakers player to prove they're the answer

After a summer of inactivity, the Los Angeles Lakers have finally made a change to the roster. Los Angeles signed free agent center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract, thus giving the promising rim protector a chance to play his way back into the NBA after temporarily retiring due to a blood clot.

It's a compelling signing, as Koloko has looked the part of a high-level rim protector and Los Angeles needs depth at center—unless Jaxson Hayes has something to say about it.

Los Angeles is entering the 2024-25 season with a thin depth chart at the 5-spot, with Anthony Davis reluctantly playing a bulk of his minutes at the top of that otherwise unproven group. Thankfully, Koloko could help alleviate some of the pressure as a shot-blocking big with a massive 7'5.25" wingspan.

Hayes has flashed the potential to occupy that same supporting role, however, and shouldn't be written off until Redick is given a chance to try to find him a place in the rotation.

Hayes was selected at No. 8 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and played the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. He's started just 52 games in five seasons, however, averaging at least 20.0 minutes per outing just once.

Entering the final season of his current contract, the time has never been better for Hayes to realize his potential.

Jaxson Hayes has a chance to become the center the Lakers need

From a physical perspective, it's easy to see why Hayes was a top-10 pick just five years ago. He stands at 7'0" and 220 pounds with a 7'3.5" wingspan and explosive athleticism that enables him to play effortlessly above the rim.

In theory, that should allow Hayes to thrive as a lob target, rim protector, and potentially even a pick-and-roll dive man.

There was a brief stretch during the 2023-24 season that Hayes' upside began to manifest. During the 12 games between March 16 and April 9, he averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 offensive rebounds in just 18.3 minutes per game—translating to 13.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.2 offensive boards per 36 minutes.

That includes a clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 7, during which he tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds, two offensive boards, five steals, and a block.

It's a small sample size, but it wasn't too far off the pace from his career averages. Through five seasons, Hayes has averaged 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.0 offensive boards, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 36 minutes on 63.6 percent shooting from the field.

If Hayes can maintain that level of per-36 production while providing more consistency on defense, he could crack the elusive 20-minutes-per-game threshold in 2024-25.

The unfortunate truth preventing him from doing so, however, is that upside is what he's primarily flashed through five seasons. Consistency hasn't been a trait teams have been able to rely on, and the Lakers can't afford to make the wrong decision at a crucial supporting position.

The door remains open, however, for the former top-10 draft pick to show the Lakers that they have a diamond in the rough just waiting to be found. It's all a matter of what he makes of the opportunity.