DETROIT — With the Lakers searching for athleticism and perimeter defense, Cam Reddish debuted in the team’s rotation during Monday night’s 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

Reddish, who made his season debut in the Oct. 30 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, made his first appearance on Monday midway through the second quarter, subbing in for Rui Hachimura during the rotation pattern that third-year wing Max Christie usually is in to close the first half.

The sixth-year wing primarily guarded Pistons ball-handlers Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

“Cam was great,” LeBron James said. “He did exactly what was asked of him. He came in and he defended at a high level. He was great.”

Reddish didn’t take 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 Jarred Vanderbilt sidelined after having surgery on his feet during the offseason, there could be an opportunity for Reddish to become a more consistent part of the rotation. Especially if he makes the defensive impact he did on Monday with his speed and ability to keep ball handlers in front of him — something the Lakers have been lacking to start the season.

Reddish, 6-foot-7, was a consistent part of the rotation for the first half of last season, including starting 26 games.

The Lakers will close their five-game trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at FedExForum.

“He certainly earned some trust,” coach JJ Redick said of Reddish. “But we’ll evaluate (today) and see what Wednesday looks like.”

Hayes comments

Jaxson Hayes spoke with reporters for the first time on Monday since the NBA reopened an investigation into a 2021 domestic incident involving the Lakers backup center after TMZ on Saturday posted a video of the altercation between Hayes and his then-girlfriend Sofia Jamora.

Los Angeles police officers responded to a call by a cousin of Jamora after the incident, with Hayes being arrested for resisting a police officer. An officer was treated for an elbow injury suffered when Hayes shoved him against 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 a year of weekly domestic violence classes after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident.

The NBA didn’t discipline Hayes after its first investigation.

“Me and my team are working on cooperating with the league with all of that,” Hayes said. “I don’t have any other comments about it right now.”