The Los Angeles Lakers inexplicably chose to turn away from Jaxson Hayes at every turn in last year's NBA Playoffs despite struggling to defend the rim without a proper big man. Why? Well, because they could not accomplish that task with him on the floor either.
It only took one half for Hayes to prove the same issues that have followed him throughout his NBA career were still present as ever in the Lakers' first preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns. At the midway point of the matchup, the Lakers center had already racked up four personal fouls, holding the worst plus/minus of any player for the team with a -20 at the break.