D’Angelo Russell‘s praise for Jaxson Hayes highlights the potential financial rewards awaiting the young center. “He’s gonna make a lot of money this summer… whenever he gets just a little bit of time he dominates it so kudos to him,” Russell noted, underscoring the value of Hayes’ hard work and dedication. This dedication could indeed result in a lucrative payoff, as strong individual stats and team contributions often lead to better contracts. Such an outcome would be a major boost for Hayes, especially since his current earnings fall below his rookie season salary.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the 24-year-old’s contract situation with the Los Angeles Lakers.

What is Jaxson Hayes contract?

In 2023, Jaxson Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, which included a player option for the 2024-25 season. Despite some initial uncertainty about his future with the team, Hayes opted to stay with the Lakers in June, securing his spot for another year. Although he’s not a regular starter and plays a supporting role alongside stars like LeBron James, NBA fans can look forward to seeing Hayes in the purple and gold for another season.

The Atlanta Hawks initially picked Hayes as the 8th overall pick during the 2019 NBA Draft. However, the franchise later chose to trade him to the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite the trade, Hayes secured a contract reflective of his Top-10 draft status. The young Center/Power Forward signed a four-year, $22.1 million deal with the Pelicans, with the full amount guaranteed—a solid start to his NBA career.

Jaxson Hayes’ initial four-year, $22.1 million contract set expectations for strong performance, but his average stats—7.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists over 241 games—fell short of what the Pelicans likely hoped for. Although he shot an efficient 62.2% from the field, his attempts were limited, and his 28.8% three-point shooting indicated room for growth as an all-around player. By October 2022, extension talks stalled, with the Pelicans reportedly needing to see more consistency from Hayes before committing to him long-term. When no qualifying offer was extended by June 2023, he entered the market as an unrestricted free agent.

The Lakers ultimately gave Hayes another chance with a two-year veteran minimum contract, averaging $2.3 million annually—a significant drop from his initial $5.5 million per year. Although Hayes could have explored free agency for a better deal, he chose instead to focus on development and growth, especially with the opportunity to learn from some of the league’s most seasoned players.

“I definitely don’t regret it” – Jaxson Hayes cited LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell as his reason for joining the Lakers

The 2023-24 season saw Jaxson Hayes struggle to elevate his performance from his time with the Pelicans. Instead, his stats took a dip, averaging just 4.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists across 70 games, with only five starts. Despite the limited role and reduced stats, Hayes expressed that the chance to play alongside veterans like LeBron James was an invaluable opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“This offseason I definitely had a few options and one of the main reasons I wanted to come here was the great players that they had like DLo, like Bron, like AD, Austin, and just be able to play pick-and-roll with guys like DLo and Austin and LeBron,” Hayes said in April. “So I felt like this was the best choice for me and I definitely don’t regret it.”

With D’Angelo Russell being amongst the field of other probable players who may be rooting for the 24-year-old, only time will tell whether he becomes worthy of a higher-paying contract in the future.