Just three days after entering the free market, Jaxson Hayes will return to the Los Angeles Lakers. According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday, his agent has finalized an agreement with Lakers President Rob Pelinka and is expected to sign a one-year contract worth a total of $3 million.

Jaxson Hayes entered the NBA through the draft in 2019 and has played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. After Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks last season, Hayes started 56 regular season games for the Lakers, averaging 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game, with a career-high shooting percentage of 72.2%.

Hayes also showed strong rim protection on the defensive end. Among all players who contested at least 250 shots, his opponent's layup and dunk percentage ranked in the top ten in the league.

In the playoffs, Hayes played 4 times for the Lakers, averaging 1.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 37.5%. The Lakers eventually lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for two consecutive years.

Various signs indicate that Hayes will play for the Lakers as Deandre Ayton's backup next season.