As one Lakers player is set to return from injury, another gets added to the list.<\/p>\n
Jaxson Hayes has been upgraded to probable for LA\u2019s upcoming contest against Phoenix, but Rui Hachimura has now been downgraded to questionable with an illness.<\/p>\n
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Hayes was day-to-day after Monday\u2019s practice<\/a>. If he returns after just one game out, that aligns with the assessment of the severity of his injury.<\/p>\n The potential return of Hayes is a welcome one. Redick described him as the best vertical lob threat<\/a> the team has before their game against the Magic.<\/p>\n Hayes is solidified as the backup big for the Lakers and is averaging 6.8 points and shooting a career-high 77% from the field.<\/p>\n On the negative side, the Lakers starting this brief road trip without Hachimura would certainly make beating the Suns that much harder.<\/p>\n Hachimura is a rotation player for Los Angeles. He is averaging 11.7 points per game and is one of their best 3-point shooters, converting on 44% of his attempts from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n While Hachimura\u2019s role has shifted from starter to bench player, he is still playing a ton. On the season, he is averaging 29.5 minutes per game, and in LA\u2019s loss against the Magic<\/a>, he was part of the closing lineup.<\/p>\n If he is out, LA\u2019s other forwards, such as Jake LaRavia, will have to step up in his absence.<\/p>\n On the plus side, considering that it\u2019s an illness, there shouldn\u2019t be much concern from Lakers fans that Hachimura will be out for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n