Already dealing with an injury-depleted roster, the Los Angeles Lakers are facing yet another absence. According to Jovan Buha of *The Athletic*, forward Cam Reddish will miss Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns for personal reasons. However, center Jaxson Hayes, previously listed as probable with a sore left foot, has been cleared to play just in time.
Hayes delivered a strong performance off the bench in the Lakers’ recent 110-103 win against the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves, who had recently traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. Hayes scored 10 points in 16 minutes, providing solid backup to Anthony Davis. Reddish, however, was a healthy scratch, suggesting he may not feature prominently in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
Reddish, the 6’8″ forward from Duke, has struggled to establish a role due to inconsistent shooting and defense. Last season, he averaged 5.4 points on a shooting line of .389/.336/.759. The Lakers are also awaiting the returns of big men Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt, who could see more defined roles when healthy. Currently, Redick’s starting five includes D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, with a bench unit featuring Dalton Knecht, Max Christie, Gabe Vincent, and Hayes. Rookie Bronny James, LeBron’s son, saw limited minutes in the last game but may not be a regular rotation fixture for now.
