3 players who could break into Lakers starting lineup

No. 2 player who could break into Lakers starting lineup: Jaxson Hayes

Last season, the Lakers went away from the twin towers approach of yesteryear and were extremely successful. Anthony Davis thrived as the lone big — defensively and offensively — en route to his best individual season as a Laker. That won’t stop the Lakers from considering newcomer Jaxson Hayes for a spot next to Davis in the starting five.

The motivation behind starting Hayes would be fairly simple: Davis has a long list of injuries on his ledger. Placing another center next to Davis in the frontcourt allows the Lakers to siphon off some of the more physical interior matchups to another big, in theory preserving Davis for the playoffs.

It’s a nice thought, but Davis’ offensive shortcomings become far more apparent with another big in the frontcourt. Especially one that doesn’t space the floor. Davis is an erratic mid-range shooter at best and defenses are comfortable leaving him open behind the 3-point line. Hayes operates almost exclusively in the dunker’s spot or rolling to the basket off of screens. He could take up precious oxygen for Davis in the paint.

That also clogs the floor for Los Angeles’ key playmakers. LeBron James and Austin Reaves are both regular suppliers of rim pressure, but it gets harder to function that way with two non-shooters on the floor.

The defensive benefits are moot, too. Hayes isn’t exactly the best candidate to absorb more physical matchups in the post. Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the like will get Hayes in foul trouble quicker than Davis can say unibrow. Hayes is rail-thin and he spent most of his playing time in New Orleans next to a bulkier post defender in Jonas Valanciunas.

Vanderbilt is a better defensive fit at the four spot. Hachimura makes more sense offensively. The Lakers really shouldn’t start Hayes, but it has been floated by prominent members of the Lakers media as a distinct possibility, so it merits watching.