"LeBron about to send this man to purgatory" - NBA fans react as Lakers 7-foot center Jaxson Hayes emerges favorite to join Hornets in offseason

The LA Lakers' depth and rotation at the center position is arguably the weakest of the team — and it could get worse. As per Bovada, Jaxson Hayes could be on the move this summer, with the Charlotte Hornets named as his most likely landing spot with +175 odds.

He is reportedly looking for a change of scenery after growing unhappy with his role in the team late in the season, according to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin.

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Fans reacted to Hayes' reported desire to move to a different team.

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"LeBron about to send this man to purgatory," one fan tweeted.

"Lmfao if you win the Jaxson Hayes sweepstakes you definitely are tanking," a fan wrote.

"Who gets the worst player stake," another fan wrote.

Others gave their takes on the best landing spots for Hayes.

"Might not be on the board but wouldn't mind seeing him in Milwaukee," a fan commented.

"BRING HIM HOME TO NOLA," one fan said.

"Cmon to the #Bulls he'll fit in perfect with the young core," another fan wrote.

Hayes took over as the starter after Anthony Davis was traded in February. He led all of LA's centers in minutes with 19.5 per game. He put up 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.

In the postseason, he played and started in Games 1 through 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played an average of 7.8 minutes, averaging 1.8 ppg and 2.0 rpg. JJ Redick benched him in Game 5 as the Lakers were eliminated.

The LA Lakers are being linked to several centers ahead of the offseason

The LA Lakers are expected to aggressively try to add a center to their rotation this summer. LA doesn't have a lot of assets it can use to trade for a big man, but the free agent market has several potential targets — and some are already being linked to the team.

One player rumored to be the Lakers' next center is 2021 NBA champion Brook Lopez. He is a free agent this summer and already played for them before (2017-18). Lopez will provide LA with floor spacing and rim protection, making him an ideal center for Luka Doncic.

Another name that's been brought up is Clint Capela. His numbers were down last season, averaging 8.9 ppg and 8.5 rpg. It was the first time his scoring average dipped to single digits since his sophomore campaign (2015-16). Additionally, he grabbed under 10 rebounds per game for the first time since 2016-17.

This dip in production comes with a silver lining for the Lakers, as they can pick him up for a smaller contract.

About the author

Miguel is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 7 years. A lover of the sport owing to its mental aspect, he has played it throughout high school and college as a power forward and small forward, and has also coached high school and college basketball teams. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on the game, which translates into insightful content.

For Miguel, the San Antonio Spurs, especially during the Tim Duncan era, were the embodiment of team basketball. He respects Gregg Popovich's empathy toward his players and his understanding of the game. The Spurs' titles, Kobe Bryant's poignant "Dear Basketball" tribute, Derrick Rose's remarkable 50-point game with Minnesota and Magic Johnson's remarkable comeback are among Miguel's top basketball moments.

For his articles, he conducts thorough research, cross verifies information with at least three sources, and sometimes sacrifices speed for accuracy. Content simplification and maintaining a neutral view on topics are his strengths.

Miguel follows other sports, particularly the NFL, and when not working he enjoys hobbies like cooking and playing video games.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez