By james art 
Lakers forward Cam Reddish looks to pass the ball as Detroit Pistons’ Tim Hardaway Jr. defends during the first half Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Schamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT — With the Lakers looking for athleticism and perimeter defense, Cam Reddish made his rotation debut during Monday night’s 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Reddish, who made his season debut in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 30, made his first appearance Monday midway through the second quarter, replacing forward Rui Hachimura during the rotation pattern when third-year wing Max Christie usually comes in to close out the first. half time.
The sixth-year wing primarily guarded Pistons Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
“Cam was great,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “He did exactly what was asked of him. He came in and defended at a high level. He was great.”
Reddish didn’t have a shot on Monday, but finished with five rebounds and a steal in 14 minutes.
His individual plus/minus of plus-10 was a team high. He was the only Laker with a positive plus/minus.
In light of Christie’s struggles to start the season as a regular part of the rotation and forward Jarred Vanderbilt out for the season after offseason foot surgery, there may be an opportunity for Reddish to become a more consistent part of the rotation.
Especially if he makes the defensive impact he did Monday with his speed and ability to keep players in front of him — something the Lakers lacked to start the season.
The 6-foot-7 Reddish was a fixture in the rotation for the first half of last season, starting 26 games.
The Lakers will close out their five-game road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at FedExForum.
“He’s certainly gained some credibility [on Monday night],” coach JJ Redick said of Reddish. “But we will judge [on Tuesday] and see what Wednesday looks like.
HAYES COMMENTS
Jackson Hayes spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since the NBA reopened its investigation into a 2021 domestic incident involving the Lakers backup center after TMZ released video Saturday of an altercation between Hayes and his then-girlfriend Sofia Jamora.
Los Angeles police officers responded to a call from Jamora’s cousin after the incident, and Hayes was arrested for resisting an officer. An officer was treated for an elbow injury suffered when Hayes pushed him into the wall, police said, and Hayes was treated for what police described as minor injuries.
In June 2022, Hayes was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service and one year of weekly domestic violence classes after pleading no contest to two felony charges stemming from an incident.
The NBA did not discipline Hayes after its first investigation.
“Me and my team are working on working with the league with all of this,” Hayes said. “I have no further comment on this at this time.”