Lakers' BATTLE Of The Bigs

Who will be the Lakers' reserve center? Trevor Lane takes a look at Christian Wood vs Jackson Hayes to see who fits best in place of Anthony Davis and who works playing beside him as well...
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[@LeadfootLou]

We need a full time big not just a backup big. Letting JV go to the Wizards was a huge mistake.

[@cmy9769]

Who is jv

[@dreamchop735]

@@cmy9769 jared vanderbilt 😂

[@praktikalarch2198]

😂​@@dreamchop735😂

[@jasoncalder4563]

@@cmy9769 jonus valanciunas

[@Jrod.1126]

He's not on the wizards dummy🤣

[@Malachi162]

Jaxon should been packing in muscle gaining like 25 plus pounds

[@basketballgod2791]

They need somebody honestly

[@DerrickKing-d5u]

We been waiting for years for Pelinka to make a deal and bring someone in. All we hear are rumors and possibilities on who we could get, only for none of them to come to the lakers.

[@joshberry7318]

yep, its ridiculous, its always "wait till the deadline, wait till the summer" its an absolute joke.

[@DerrickKing-d5u]

@@joshberry7318 facts!

[@RK-ck6pl]

He brought in Andre Drummond and Gasol. Maybe it's time we admit that AD is better at center and Lebron is better at power forward..?

[@DerrickKing-d5u]

@@RK-ck6pl Andre Drummond and Gasol…… really. Stop playing lol

[@kaferrat]

@@RK-ck6pl AD only good when other teams have no bigs. 😑🙄He's aways whining he doesn't want to play the big position & always has no answers for Jokic, Embiid, Sabonis. 🥺😫🤣AD just "delicate". 😜

[@jasonevans8794]

I wish we would get a center and move AD back to the power forward position.

[@whenever500]

AD suck at PF. He can't make his jump shots. made big bucks gotta play.

[@wills.9422]

The roster is not constructed the same as that year. How do you play Rui & Vando minutes if LBJ/AD are the starting SF/PF?

[@alwayswinning3743]

Don't we all? That's the Aim :)

[@csnodgers9025]

​@@whenever500could we at least give it a try though and see. We did the AD at center already and it hasn't worked.

[@AldenG]

The clear winner is the other team.

[@CAF420ALLDAY7]

😂

[@Leslie-y2r]

Neither of these two had ample time to prove themselves. Ham had them on the bench when they had 3 guards while getting destroyed on the glass. JJ should help and play them when actually needed

[@X_Armadylx]

next season is chalked

[@Kenjayfan55]

So this is what it's come to? A "battle" between Jaxon Hayes and Christian Wood, who both are back because they got zero offers from other teams. But congratulations to Wood. This would be only the 2nd time he's been on anyone's roster two consecutive years. Thanks to Rob Pelinka. The player option Candyman.

[@johnnychatman4480]

😮😮😮 No you didn't FACTS💯 tho

[@user-qb6pq1yf8u]

Neither of them can cover Embid, Sabonis or Jokic. It's been 3 seasons and the front office refuses to address.

[@jaywallst5319]

🗣️‼️

[@sauce7608]

@@jaywallst5319all they did was signing guards😂😂😂😂 they kept saying they dont want lebron to be the point no more,lakers and pelinka thought it will make lebron more tired so they decided to sign schroeder,russ and dlo,vincent after the bubble but they forget that they need a big.😂😂😂

[@chf159]

Has it occured to you that it's not pelinka but that the players don't want to come play in an environment with fans that expect only wins, a first time coach, a dysfunctional owner, and a toxic player in lebron?!?!?

[@fattony9227]

Neither can AD. That's why the Lakers need a true big.

[@notoriousLSGshow]

They were up doub digits most of the time vs nugs in that series , I blame DH not making adjustments - tbh who can really guard joker & AD can make joker work on D - I'm ok w/ Lakers running it back & I think JJ can put RUI in positions to be elite @ times

[@gaberox1]

Wood and AD can work together it's easy too see. Wood is an underrated rebounder and despite the down year can shoot the 3. It's a no brainer for certain matchups. Dopey Darvin flubbed a lot of potential last year.

[@gregpollard7158]

Wood is Power Forward & Jaxson is Center.

[@SSJRome]

Wood should be the 4 off the bench and play alongside AD mostly

[@robdevaughn299]

I agree 💯

[@Disis960]

I agree in certain/most matchups. He can give AD the floor spacing he needs to dominate the post.

[@Only1Nono]

If we can get a real big none of this matters. ADs injury is from playing something he’s not 😂 lebron lowkey needa go back to the 3 or just retire

[@SSJRome]

@@Only1Nono the summer almost over man this is the team we got

[@adamhurley751]

at 6 9 wood could even be the starting 3. in his career he scores more and rebounds way more than rui. and he had the third best defensive rating on the team behind AD and vando

[@lionelserville5813]

I'll take studio Stu. Cat like quickness, nine lives. No doubt.

[@Apis_Trader]

Strong guards abused Jackson Hayes. All you have to do is run into him. It's the same thing that LeBron does to wemby. As soon as he jumps in the air and makes contact he will go backwards every single time. Jackson Hayes is so weak

[@jameschan9634]

you mean when LeBron looks like a fullback hitting the line of scrimmage?

[@carmeloanthony5923]

I feel like management sincerely doesn't care about winning rings, and just making money with the least amount of financial risks being made. We all know AD wants to play the 4, the priority should have been Jonas from the start, or even overpaying for a quality big. The trade for Myles turner and Buddy was the right move. Love Christian wood and jaxon hayes as filler pieces but they just don't have the strength to compete with the likes of Jokic, and these other guys.

[@jeromekyles2222]

You clearly don't understand the money aspect of basketball. The Lakers are maxed out and don't want to enter the 2nd apron which you obviously know nothing about. That's the reason why Denver has lost key players the last 2 seasons. "The 2nd APRON" look it up before you make $ comments.

[@carmeloanthony5923]

@@jeromekyles2222 calm your balls, obviously there are implications on roster modifcations to make that work, trades, etc. it's not a complicated subject matter bud

[@trgrgtgrtgr7724]

I think Rob Pelinka is playing it safe. He doesn’t want to screw up yet again, so he’s just doing nothing. I mean, the best way to be 100% sure to not make a mistake is by doing absolutely nothing. And then he can find excuses like "it takes two to tango, there’s was no move available"

[@carmeloanthony5923]

@@trgrgtgrtgr7724 that's probably exactly right

[@joshberry7318]

This is yet another non informative video, to simply put out content. Until the Lakers make a trade they are not a serious team, there is nothing noteworthy to post about the Lakers, I don't understand why we are talking about who wins a backup center position between 2 power forwards. It simply doesn't matter, just like what the g league guys are doing doesn't matter either.

[@torymitchell9382]

Rob, pelinka, let us down once again. Let all free agents walk. Horrible GM in my opinion. Wasting lebrons last years is criminal. I dont have any hope in Rob. We are in trouble

[@jasonvegan5761]

Hayes seemed lost at times last season and Wood couldn’t stay on the court. Lakers need a solid big man to start alongside AD

[@fattony9227]

The Lakers need a legitimate big before talking about a back up big. OK, AD does great against most centers in the NBA but he gets killed against the likes of Jokic and Sabonis. Size matters!

[@jwise15]

I loved how AD and Bam looked on the floor together in the Olympics. Find a bargain bin Bam

[@kaferrat]

Trash Lakers already shopped the bargain bin & could only afford Hayes & Wood. 😜🤣

[@jasonvegan5761]

Mo Bamba was supposed to be that guy except now he’s on the Clippers 😂

[@ParallelNewsNetwork]

I’m good. It’s not a choice I’m willing to ponder. They both are not a back up big. It’s like asking which pebble would make a better planet.

[@johnnychatman4480]

I Love this title 😁😁😁 More like Long forwards

[@jaynodelman5065]

Wood better than Hayes. I would use Castleton over those 2 because he will set screens

[@ParallelNewsNetwork]

I don’t understand why everyone just pretends Castleton doesn’t exist. It’s weird. Like creepy almost.

[@Kenjayfan55]

Castleton isn't very good. Not even by Summer League and G-league standards. His issues with rebounding, which the Lakers already have in spades, would be the proverbial jet fuel on the fire. Also, he's a much worse athlete than what LA has in Hayes and Wood.

[@poochierollack1571]

Go get Dwight Howard

[@markusfrazier3789]

No he’s almost 40. This isn’t 2020 Dwight Howard.. People just wanna act like 2022 after we brought him back for his 3rd stint with the Lakers (were he wasn’t very good) didn’t happen. 😏

[@meetone]

Agree. Wood s/b 1st option as b/u big

[@deandrepage1048]

Tallest Center. Point guards gotta do a better job at finding Jaxson Hayes. Throw the ball higher than most can jump.

[@blakeweiss1925]

Christian Wood was huge for us early on then Darvin like always went the other way. Wood just fits better, he will have a better season. He is also stronger and more mature than Jaxson even though he ways less. With that second lineup we need a stretch big with Vando.

[@mgzig8]

It's not really close. Even putting aside the stats Trevor read, which are in Wood's favor, Wood was okay last season. Hayes was really tough to watch and probably only got that much playing time because of Wood's injury. He's athletic & hustles, but what's the point of that if you play poor defense individually and don't block shots? And he's a negative offensively and has no touch. He feels like more of a g league guy.

[@YouReallyDontKnow]

Yup. I like his energy, but it’s a no brainer that wood is the better option.

[@DaQuavious408]

The Lakers will not sign another viable Center, forget it at this point

[@daruku995]

Hayes might learn

[@deandrepage1048]

These fans criticize 39.6% for 3-pointers off 4.6 attempts Small Forward Taurean Prince. He did what the 2-Guard would not do, stay in the deep corners for catch & shoot off D'Angelo Russell's passes. Just needed a veteran journeyman 2-Guard in front of Christie.

[@jeromekyles2222]

For size purposes. Those minutes are going to vando in my opinion over wood. They are basically the same height and weight.

[@g89stang]

Based on your question, I like Jackson Hayes. He has a lot of energy and is a dunking machine. He plays the way I like a big man to play. Down low and near the basket. I don't like when AD plays out by the 3 point line. That's why the Lakers get hammered on the boards because their big men are not under the rim.

[@theclaw63]

If the plan is to actually focus on player development then the clear answer is Hayes. He’s a decent to good player for what he does, he just needs som actual coaching and development and he can be a solid rotation guy. I like wood too I think his shooting add a lot to the offense, but Hayes has more potential upside long term

[@michaeldillard1408]

It's all about the money

[@jameschan9634]

In the LeBron era of the Lakers, has there been consecutive years where there weren't major questions about the roster? His first year was with all the gems we acquired during the rebuild, but that was dismantled. And even the 'Championship' team got traded away. I don't recognize this team, are they still the Lakers?

[@torymitchell9382]

Not with rob as GM, we are cooked

[@jameschan9634]

@@torymitchell9382 Rob is but a figurehead, as is Redick. LeEGO controls the Lakers.

[@davidparks4835]

Hayes needs to study the Dallas bigs and Wood needs to study Kuzma. But I don’t think Wood should be the lone center out there. Hayes should be back up center and Wood should play a lot of power forward next to Bron and AD throughout the game. But neither Hayes or Wood should start in my opinion. If we had someone like Capela or JV then I would definitely move AD to the four in the starting lineup. We really have to figure out roster upgrades at the point guard position and focus on finding a physical big to anchor the paint. AD is a good anchor but when he is playing power forward he’s at his best. I might would consider bringing JaVale back to the team if Sacramento would trade him.

[@davidparks4835]

If we can’t make any moves before the season starts, maybe consider using Vando as a small ball five off the bench.

[@John-hp6fm]

Both Rui and C. Wood should have gotten more minutes than T. Prince last season. That sums up Hams disaster.

[@adamhurley751]

finally someone that remembers what a disaster taurean prince was

[@wills.9422]

He had TP guarding the best wing players, to prevent AR from doing it. It would’ve been a disaster watching Rui/Cwood guard Shai, Dbook, or antman..

[@wills.9422]

@@adamhurley751nah we gon see a disaster when Vando gets injured and has to miss time..

[@nothingbutnet3093]

No more full time big until Lebron is gone. its sad to hear but thats probably the reason why they dont wanna be laker for now. JV chosed wiz over the Lakers for being the starting Center.

[@rodneyroyston8427]

The real question is who can we trust to play alongside AD. Neither will have many minutes without him. And although people are choosing Wood, Hayes had the best single game performance between the two. And if we are honest, Hayes got little to no minutes playing alongside AD and Bron. Woods got those minutes. So the plus/minus is skewed.

[@wow891]

Actually Christian Wood should have been starting in the front Court along with LeBron James and Anthony davis. I've never coached a game before in my life, but I could see that. He's kind of like Kyle kuzma to some degree, but statistically he's actually slightly a bit better.

[@wow891]

Too bad Darvin ham didn't see it.

[@Kenjayfan55]

​@wow891 8 other teams (in 10 seasons) "didn't see it." Including the Dallas Mavericks who got markedly better defensively when they jettisoned Wood. AD already is being run ragged by the defensive malpractice of an Austin Reaves/D-Lo backcourt. Wood is a worse version of that. They can't score enough to compensate for the lack of defense.

[@wills.9422]

@@Kenjayfan55bruh.. everyone seems to think another big will fix the dlo/ar backcourt 😂.. AD is better than 90% of the bigs in the league… we need a more defensive minded backcourt, atleast get of rid of one of the defensive liabilities in the backcourt.

[@wow891]

No, dude I'm talking about according to what they have on the roster that's it. ​@@Kenjayfan55

[@michaelpetit-frere5637]

Why is this even a question? Christian Wood is clearly the better fit! His numbers would’ve been better if allowed more playing time and possessions for himself. I’d argue lakers would’ve won more games if he plays 22-25 + minutes a game.

[@fredtogawa4908]

Christian Woods is the better choice, he’s a better rebounder, provides spacing with his 3pt shooting & provides more rim protection than Hayes.

[@TreyDongzz]

I know it was preseason, but watching Christian Wood live last season he looked super sluggish and lost. Never paid too much attention to him throughout the season, but I'm hoping he has a definitive role on the team this year & can stand out. He's been great with his previous teams before joining the Lakers lol

[@eulogioamorin1497]

The two bigs is Good & Young. There is more to learned this summer. Defense & Shooting The only problems is the Couching Style. They are paid to play, Share the Stuff they have. The BEAUTY of any Team is everybody involve. Let them play tougher. If you look at the Olympics, games, TheUSA Couching staff is Genius. They knew how Davis & Lebron put a Classic games.

[@harryphelps9899]

The perfect chess piece for JOKER 🃏

[@adamhurley751]

it makes no sense why people are even talking about this. jaxson hayes is 7 feet tall and clearly a center. christian is 6 9 and clearly not a center. wood should be used as a power forward or even a small forward. and if he plays so well with bron and AD then why isnt he being considered to be the starting small forward. in his career he actually scores more and rebounds more than rui. and last year he had the third best defensive rating on the team behind AD and vando

[@paulbowa9504]

Wood is better. Hayes only dunks,no rebounds no blocks no scoring other than dunks

[@sjohn9873]

The battle of the MIDS 😢

[@MadOrNahh]

They need Dwight or McGee

[@markusfrazier3789]

No they don’t they’re old. This isn’t 2020

[@MadOrNahh]

@@markusfrazier3789 They don’t need to score. They just have to rebound, play defense, and give/take bruises in that paint! You see AD don’t wanna do that 💩 he a house 🥷🏾 aka the tallest player on the court that wants to play the 4 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@dmitryowens]

Hayes really needs to work on his offensive game, rebounding and shot blocking if he wants to stay in the NBA.

[@cerrengriffith4852]

With wood on the floor, AD has to be the center and wood the 4. With jaxson on the floor, a.d needs to be the 4 and Hayes the 5. This isn't rocket science. Hopefully we utilise Castleton to plug between the 2 positions for minutes and we will be good.

[@iamjp25]

None of them were used smartly to me. JJ has to figure out how to adjust the right time for the bigs before the season kickoff. We did not see any major impact while they took action on the court last season. Let's see what Coach Redick can do about it.

[@diehardlakersfansonly]

They both need to play since we don't have any one

[@LakersfanG6PDcst]

Our guys all took a hit because of ham so let’s keep that in mind when we evaluate the guys

[@TaviusMinter]

To be honest I don't think neither Hayes or wood shouldn't be in the center position because they defense hardly shows up when they need it or in big games especially in the playoffs so the Lakers need a 3rd center just in case

[@dominiccastro5626]

During reg season bench lineup should be dlo, knect, vando, wood and hayes

[@brandonwilkerson9802]

Trade rui and Gabe for grant make wood replace rui off the bench as the 4 and Hayes as the 5 if we can find another back up 5

[@carmeloanthony5923]

they want our picks bro, we'd be massively overpaying for grant, need a true big

[@notoriousLSGshow]

Naw , grant us fat( mindset , not physically ) & sassy - older & well paid- if vando & gave are healthy along w/ everyone else ( I kno big if ) Lakers could get to wcf & I wouldn't be shocked - RUI will have a monster year - I'm really thinking JJ will be huge upgrade over DH

[@trebligseugutrop3589]

hayes is more fit as he dont need the ball to be effective and has more energy

[@BlankUser8592]

Hayes should be called a little

[@tomlindsey2596]

Bring Kareem and Shaq in for try outs!

[@Reallyjoyboyfr]

Cwood is 6’8 according to Trevor

[@thewanderingtraveler4996]

Depends on How JJ wants to play his players

[@tvega3000]

I don’t think it should be definitively one or the other. Wood should get more minutes with AD and Bron and Hayes should be in to give AD some rest.

[@KariConn-v3d]

I still remember being really excited about both of these signings last summer. I still dont understand why jax cant be a better rim protector and rebounder at 7ft and his athleticism. He seems filled out enough to me and still so young. And c wood is really only 6-8? And is thin and shoots the 3 at 37pct? Why is he even a 5 and not a 4 or even a 3? Hayes seems like he should be the obvious choice as a more traditional big like what we had with dwight and javale. I honestly think we should even try starting him alongside AD and put Lebron at point again like in 2020. Put reaves at 2 and vando at 3, have dilo be 6th man scoring punch along with max, knecht, rui, and cwood to fill out the 2nd unit

[@dmitryowens]

Give Wood some min at PF when AD or Wood is playing C.

[@paulakapablo1749]

I think Jaxon Hayes can be fixed. He is young and it takes time for bigs to develop.

[@youngreshaud3792]

Dlo Reeves LBJ Wood AD Vincent Knect RUI Vanderbilt Hayes

[@jahiesa5056]

I’ve been saying start woods at the 5 and move AD back to the 4 I imagined that’s what Rob Pelinka signed him for

[@user-kw5qf5ho6j]

Wood can score straight up

[@deandrepage1048]

Jaxson Hayes at Center and Jarred Vanderbilt at Power Forward.

[@LakersfanG6PDcst]

Hayes can’t shoot threes but he’s more physical and can run

[@juanvelasquez5180]

We need a starter as a big not a back up

[@DavyWavy-n7j]

Hello lakers

[@KingMind.KOLA.]

CWood

[@JohnSmith-gc2ok]

...and that's exactly I was mad the entire last season that Ham would not play CWood.

[@JohnSmith-gc2ok]

Never gave him a chance.

[@user-ez7sd7jb5p]

We need one more big and a trade at the guard spot

[@Teach4391]

I would wave one of them and sign the new guy Kylor kelley for shot blocking

[@YouReallyDontKnow]

Yup, wave Hayes and give the kid a shot hope not works out.

[@jeromekyles2222]

Y'all just don't understand what the 2nd apron is do you? If they waive anybody that money is still on the books and we have no money to sign anyone. The only option is from trade.

[@warrenbailey1473]

We are missing inches Move Rui and Wood to 4 to spell Lebron and leave Hayes as the preferred back up 5 to AD but on occasion Wood can switch up at 5 when size is not needed

[@robdevaughn299]

I agree

[@danadane6482]

He needs to imitate Derrick Lively!!

[@jtser8322]

Wood. He's a far better rebounder and offensive threat. I'm hoping Reddick gives him the consistent minutes Ham refused to.

[@JohnRDr.490]

Rob Pelinka is trying to ruin LeBron's days as an NBA player

[@1986kingcash]

Just wait until preseason we don’t know yet but if I had to pick then its wood

[@PerezJose-oq9rb]

Insane to stay with Jackson and not sign JV 🤦🏻‍♂️but look they have like a lot of sg and pg 😂😂😂

[@ytdgreat]

the king trevors viceo is quantity over quality..

[@MikeIversonXL]

Why we doing a video about C.Wood and Hayes ? 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@wilsonodhiambo8578]

CW is due for a breakout season this season. With Ham gone i am hoping Reddick will play him and AD as starters more.

[@coreylewis2319]

You need size/weight for Denver and Minnesota. Stop with the “AD will play center most nights”. The man doesn’t want to play center.

[@smbk86]

Hayes played like shit for the first 2/3 of the season, and couldn't get anything done except for lob threat. That shows up in the numbers. But he significantly improved himself towards the end of the season. Wood on the other hand did pretty decent for his limited role for the first half of the season despite not very consistent. Then he got injured and never truly showed up again

[@youngreshaud3792]

We got a bad roster

[@alwayswinning3743]

Hayes = Heart, Energy, Hustle > Mcgee? Edit: Either Kessla Or Jonas Is the go to ... But IN regards to Vid It's Hayes

[@youngreshaud3792]

We gone miss Prince alot . We have no 3 point shooters

[@wills.9422]

2way players.. ppl gon truly see how weak our perimeter defense will be this year. Unless a trade is made.

[@Sheen_Scott]

We need dayaron sharpe

[@drjekylll]

Neither Deadre Aton is out there and going to be traded better not miss out on him

[@3rdFloor]

Oh no more click bait titles with "Is LeBron going to the Warriors" AHAHAHAHHA

[@cristiannavarro8295]

They need to start with Wood & AD, Hayes off the bench

[@brotherinarvroger9990]

Both of them together and Lakers still don’t have a backup!!!! Both way too light in the Azz !!!

[@VinDKing24]

Use both of them

[@jasonsutton4404]

I'd much prefer Hayes cause of his defensive upside. You're overworking AD on the defensive end which can cause defensive issues.

[@KariConn-v3d]

Agreed. I say even start him at the 5 alongside ad like they did javale in 2020, put lebron at point again with reaves to held playmake and vando at 3 to guard starters and shoot corner threes have dilo come off the bench as a 6th man scoring punch and run the offense with 3 and d wings for the second unit with christie at 2, knecht at 3, rui at 4 and wood at 5 to fill out the 10 man rotation

[@jasonsutton4404]

@@KariConn-v3d Thank you! People actually believe the only way another big can play alongside AD is if he can space the floor when Lakers were rolling out lineups with Mcgee and AD and they were very successful. It can work

[@Theonlyreal-o6t]

@@KariConn-v3dyea never thought about it that way but it could work especially since Bron has upped his 3pt%. I’ll say this whatever lineup they start with will play a HUGE role in how they play end the season.

[@jesseperez2643]

Start AD at the four!