BONUS SHOW: Hayes Rising While Ayton Struggles: Should Lakers Change Their Starting Center?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2026

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you look at their splits over the last six weeks, on a per minute basis there's no question that backup center Jaxson Hayes is playing better than starter Deandre Ayton. So should the Lakers made a change in the starting lineup? It's a trickier question than it might seem. First, Ayton has been banged up, with a bum knee keeping him ou tof the lineup for the last three games. It's possible the knee has been an issue for longer, which explains the downturn. Will the All Star break fix that? Also, Hayes does have the benefit of playing against (primarily) reserves. Would he perform as well against starters? Do the Lakers even need to make the change, or could JJ Redick get more from the position just by tweaking minutes? There's more than one way to do this sort of thing... HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. ZocDocStop putting off those doctor appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/LOCKEDONNBA to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. WayfairGet last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. 5-Hour ENERGYHave your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday’s episode is sponsored by FanDuel. The Winter Games are on. And there’s no better way to follow them than with a bet on FanDuel. FanDuel - Play your game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript

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0:00.0	As DeAndre Aiton struggles, Jackson Hayes is thriving.
0:03.6	Is it time for the Lakers to change their starting center?
0:06.9	That's next.
0:11.5	You are Locked on Lakers.
0:15.6	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network,
0:20.7	your team every day.
0:24.2	Thanks to everybody for making Lockdown Lakers.
0:25.8	First listen to every day, Monday through Friday, sometimes on weekends, even on holidays,
0:29.8	and now even more than once a day as we join you once again for one of these mini shows,
0:35.0	whatever we didn't name it yet.
0:36.7	You can help us give a title of these things, but whether you're getting it through Apple, Spotify, maybe one of the 37,000-plus subscribers to the Lockdown Lakers YouTube page no matter how you're doing it. Part of making the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in this or any other known universe, and Brian Komeneski with Andy Komenesky, cover the Lakers for nearly 20 years for outlets like the LA Times, ESPN, for the athletic.
1:00.1	And if there's a big talking point going on right now, Andy, among Lakers fans,
1:06.8	it has to do with the center position, particularly after Thursday night's win against the Mavericks when Jackson Hayes played arguably his most complete game in his time as a Laker.
1:17.7	34 minutes, 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting, seven rebounds, four assists, a block, three steals.
1:25.4	He, of course, starting in part, really not in part entirely because DeAndre Aiton, once again, unable to play with a knee injury.
1:34.2	But overall, Andy, if you want to look at the trend line, Jackson has played better on a per minute basis, has been more productive than DeAndre Ate and on a
1:45.4	permanent basis over the last, you know, certainly last month.
1:49.6	I would really say since, since 2026 began, like if you look at their minutes over the course
1:55.5	of, or excuse me, their stats and a little bit of the advanced ratings over the course of the season.
2:04.3	DeAndre Aiton's averaging roughly 13 points, 8.5 rebounds in a block in 28 minutes.
2:10.1	Jackson Hayes in 18 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, and a little bit under one block per game.
2:17.2	Their plus minus and their net ratings are roughly the same.
	...

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