After signing guard Gary Payton II to a two-way contract earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers still had one remaining roster opening, which was created when the team released veteran center Andrew Bogut.
The team was expected to target shooting with it’s potential signings as the team continues to be the worst in the NBA from the 3-point line and now they have decided on the next player to take a look at.
According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, the Lakers are set to sign Nigel Hayes of the G League’s Westchester Knicks to a 10-day contract:
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing forward Nigel Hayes of G League's Westchester to a 10-day contract, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 18, 2018
Hayes spent four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, but went unselected in the 2017 NBA Draft. He joined the New York Knicks’ Summer League team and eventually got a training camp invite, but was cut before the start of the season.
In the G League, Hayes has been excellent. Appearing in 30 contests, he is averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 35.1 minutes.
At 6’8 and 258 pounds, Hayes has the ability to play both forward positions. He is a solid defender who can hold his own against bigger forwards, but also contain players on the perimeter. Offensively, he is comfortable in the post as well as outside as his shooting percentages indicate.
The power forward position is crowded for the Lakers with Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr. all needing minutes. As well Brandon Ingram playing at the four in small-ball lineups, but the Lakers do need another wing to play some backup minutes with Corey Brewer seemingly falling out of the rotation recently.
With both Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suffering minor injuries in Wednesday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, there could be a few extra minutes opening up if one of them happens to be slightly more serious than expected.
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