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Jaxson Hayes was thrust into the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup following the Luka Doncic trade that shipped Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
Hayes had been serving a valuable role off the bench as one of the Lakers’ center options, but without Davis head coach JJ Redick named him a starter and he took off from there. Hayes displayed immediate chemistry with Doncic as a rim-running lob threat, connecting numerous times with the superstar guard and establishing himself as a key piece in the rotation.
However, Hayes saw his playing time dwindle in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves as head coach JJ Redick preferred to utilize his small-ball lineups. Redick said he still believed in Hayes but didn’t rule out benching him.
That reality came to pass in Game 5 as Redick benched Hayes for Dorian Finney-Smith, though it ended up not mattering as the Lakers lost and were eliminated by the Timberwolves. While it must have been difficult for Hayes to give up starting, he revealed he knew the decision was coming and respected the coaching staff’s choice.
“I mean, they told me. They were up straight with me in just saying to stay ready and they were gonna try some other things out. That was the coach’s decision, so I respect that always,” Hayes said.
Los Angeles’ offense sputtered with Hayes on the floor, so Redick made the move to give the team more spacing. Unfortunately, playing smaller for long stretches had obvious drawbacks such as a lack of rebounding and rim protection.
Hayes could’ve helped in that regard, but overall it was clear that the Lakers were a flawed roster that didn’t have the requisite versatility and depth that other playoff rosters normally have. Hayes is at his best when he isn’t being asked to do too much, but the series against Minnesota made it hard for him to play for extended periods.
Hayes is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but a reunion with Los Angeles might make sense for both sides. Hayes can go back to coming off the bench assuming the Lakers add a true starting center, and he shouldn’t cost as much.
Jaden McDaniels felt he could attack rim when Jaxson Hayes was off the floor
The Timberwolves were relentless attacking the paint for layups, dunks and open 3-pointers. Jaden McDaniels had a big series offensively and he noted that he felt he could be more aggressive when Jaxson Hayes was off the floor.
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Three potential trade destinations for Grizzlies' Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies' (3-3) 2025-26 season is just six games old, yet issues have already begun to arise with star point guard Ja Morant. Friday night’s loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers (4-2) saw the 2019 second overall pick struggle to the tune of just eight points, seven assists and one rebound on 3-of-14 shooting, which included going 0/6 from beyond the arc. While that performance was concerning enough for the Grizzlies, the way Morant handled himself during and after the game was even worse. Morant was seen avoiding the huddle during an in-game timeout, and in his postgame press conference, he quickly directed the blame for his off night onto the coaching staff. Those actions have since led to Morant being suspended one game by the Grizzlies for conduct detrimental to the team. It’s yet another ugly situation for Morant in Memphis, adding to a long list of issues that have emerged on and off the court. It couldn’t be more obvious that both the player and team need a breakup, so let’s take a look at the three best fits for Morant to get said change of scenery. Minnesota Timberwolves No team is in more desperate need of a point guard than the Timberwolves. Mike Conley, 38, has been starting at the position in recent games, and, as solid a career as he’s had, that is not a good thing at this point. Anthony Edwards feels like the only true offensive creator in Minnesota, so bringing in Morant would give both guys the freedom to feed off one another as a 1-2 punch. The T-Wolves will always be Edwards’ team, which could greatly benefit Morant by allowing him to focus on his game rather than deal with all that comes with being the face of a franchise. Toronto Raptors Something's got to give in Toronto. The time for patience has passed, and the excuses have to stop. This roster has more than enough talent to compete for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, yet it’s still just not working. Immanuel Quickley has often been injured and, quite frankly, has not been cutting it even when on the court. The Raptors have lots of nice pieces, but they lack that true closer when the game gets into crunch time; enter Morant. At 26 years old, he fits right into the timeline to win with Scottie Barnes (24), Brandon Ingram (28) and RJ Barrett (25) as the core in Toronto. Time for another Kawhi Leonard-esque splash from Bobby Webster and company. Washington Wizards The third and final team that could be a sneaky good landing spot is the Wizards. Washington finally appears to have a direction and will eventually be able to start adding higher-end talent around the young nucleus they’re building. They may not be a contender anytime soon, but Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly have it feeling like the culture is shifting positively. Given that expectations are low, Morant could come in alongside all of this young talent, play his game and put the distractions aside. Not to mention the Wizards could probably make things work with Memphis thanks to their cap space and draft capital.
Intriguing reunion on table for Steelers with trade deadline nearing
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that is looking to solidify itself as a competitor in the AFC for the 2025 season, and the franchise should be looking to make some moves around the trade deadline. The organization already brought in safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots, and he made an immediate impact in a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Steelers could use some help on the offensive side of the ball as well, but more additions could be made to shore up the defense as well. There is some positional uncertainty at safety for the Steelers as well as a bunch of injuries. The position has changed a ton throughout the season, and the Steelers could certainly use some more depth in the area. Unfortunately, Minkah Fitzpatrick would only be an option if he were to be cut as Pittsburgh cannot trade for him within two years of trading him away. However, his former running mate, Damontae Kazee, is a potential option for the Steelers after he was released by the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Kazee is a veteran with a good amount of experience, and he could certainly sign with Pittsburgh if the front office wants him to return to the black and gold. However, there are other safety-needy teams throughout the league as well. The coaching staff in the Steel City understands and appreciates familiar voices on the roster, and Kazee could provide decent depth while also being familiar with the defense and everyone in the building. Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark have been other contributors at safety for the Steelers in 2025, but there is a real chance that Kazee might be a better option than either of those players. Both Thornhill and Clark have seemed to be at the center of communication issues in the secondary, and whenever there is an obvious coverage bust, Clark seems to always be one of the players closest to it. Kazee signed with the Browns during the 2025 offseason, and he had only played in four games through the first nine weeks of the season. He had been on the field for just 11 defensive snaps, as he seemed to be more of a special teamer in Cleveland. Despite the reduced role in 2025, he could provide some value to Pittsburgh, even if he is just signed to the practice squad. The fan base in Pittsburgh might not have always loved Kazee, but he played a lot of football for the Steelers throughout the three seasons he spent with the team. At the very least, he provides depth for Pittsburgh at a position of need, and he wouldn't be expensive to sign. This is the type of signing the Steelers would make, and it completely makes sense to do so. Pittsburgh Steelers have found a successful safety combination Ahead of Pittsburgh's game on Sunday against the Colts, it was announced that cornerback Jalen Ramsey would be playing exclusively free safety. He had been playing some safety throughout the year depending on what the opposing offense was doing, but on Sunday, he did not leave the position. It was Ramsey and Dugger leading the way in the defensive backfield, and the duo had a pretty good day. It will be interesting to see if that is something the Steelers continue to use in the coming weeks, but it probably should be since it was so effective against the best offense in the NFL.
The 'Most 300-yard, 4 touchdown NFL games' quiz
Since the renaissance of Sam Darnold’s career in Minnesota last season, one of the reputational issues the veteran needed to shake was his play in primetime. Against the Washington Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ he did what he could to put that narrative to bed by completing 21-of-24 passes for 330 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in a dominant 38-14 win. Darnold was deadly accurate Sunday night, completing every pass he attempted in the first half before throwing just eight times in the second half and giving way to Drew Lock in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand. The Seahawks gave Darnold a three- year, $100.5 million contract after his career-year in Minnesota last season. So far he’s rewarded them with 2,084 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions en route to a 6-2 record through eight games. Which brings us to today’s quiz. It was the third time of Darnold’s career – and second already of the 2025 campaign – that he’s thrown for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in the same game. With that being said, can you name every NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl Era to do that at least three times? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Steelers Make Hard Decision To Part Ways With Once-Promising Defensive Player
The Pittsburgh Steelers sought to bolster their secondary during the 2024 NFL season, and an unlikely solution quickly emerged in undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. In his rookie season, Bishop impressed by intercepting four passes and showing flashes of playmaking ability. However, following the 2024 campaign, it became clear that Pittsburgh wanted more than just Bishop to play a nickel role, and instead, across their secondary. After making several moves to strengthen depth in the secondary, Bishop's role diminished. He was moved to the practice squad, but after the Steelers were reportedly signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad on Monday, Bishop was forced off the roster. It was officially announced Monday that the Steelers would be releasing Bishop from their practice squad. Bishop’s release underscores the harsh realities of roster management in the NFL. Despite his rookie success, the team clearly prioritized adding depth and flexibility elsewhere, particularly at wide receiver. While Bishop showed potential as a ballhawk, the Steelers’ secondary has now shifted toward veterans and other younger options to solidify the unit. For Bishop, this is likely not the end of his NFL journey, as players with his skill set often find opportunities on other teams or return to practice squads later in the season. Steelers fans will remember his contributions, but the organization appears focused on reshaping the roster for greater overall depth heading into the 2025 season. When the Steelers faced the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets during the 2024 NFL season, Bishop rose to the occasion. Targeted by the future Hall of Famer, Bishop answered the call in spectacular fashion, intercepting Rodgers not once, but twice. The performance instantly became a defining moment for the rookie, showcasing his ball-hawking instincts and fearlessness on the field. Ex-Steelers DB Steals 2 Footballs From Aaron Rodgers Back In 2024 The game did not just make headlines for the on-field heroics. Afterward, Bishop went viral for his heartfelt postgame antics, making it clear that he expected Rodgers to autograph both intercepted footballs he kept. The moment captured the attention of fans and social media alike, cementing Bishop’s reputation as a confident and charismatic young player who was not afraid to make his mark. It is a memory that Bishop and Steelers fans will likely treasure for years to come. Bishop was thrilled to learn that in the 2025 offseason, Rodgers would be joining the Steelers. Rodgers became part of the team for the 2025 season. While it does not appear that the two are currently teammates, the ever-revolving nature of NFL practice squads means this may not be Bishop’s last opportunity in Pittsburgh or in the NFL. His rookie season showed his talent and potential, and there could still be a chance for him to make an impact in the Steel City or elsewhere in the league.
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