Free agency, now fully underway, will see plenty of player movement and new contracts. Players, unlike during the season, when teams fully hold their rights, remain fully in control of their destination. Rui Hachimura, most recently of the Los Angeles Lakers, possesses the option to enter whatever offers flow his way.
After the Lakers learned that LeBron James would not be returning, the team gained greater financial flexibility, which benefits both the team and free agents. Yet they may not be the only team pursuing Hachimura. One NBA insider provided his take.
NBA Insider Believes That Forward Rui Hachimura Will Leave the Lakers
Hachimura ended his fourth season in Los Angeles on a high note, with a 25-point outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who closed out the Lakers in four games. However, prospective suitors saw the 28-year-old shoot 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the three-point line.
Insider Marc Stein believes Hachimura is at the top of the list of desired forwards and will leave the Lakers.
“Lakers free agent Rui Hachimura, Clippers free agent John Collins, and Pistons free agent Tobias Harris are also known to be on San Antonio’s list. Hachimura, for that matter, is also believed to still be drawing interest from Brooklyn and Detroit and is regarded as increasingly likely to join James, Smart, and Phoenix-bound Luke Kennard out the exit door in Lakerland.”
Of the mentioned teams, San Antonio stands out the most. The Spurs, despite employing Victor Wembanyama, still need another low-post threat that can veer onto the perimeter offensively. Similarly, on defense, they need a player to remain in contact with the opposing forward, especially on the glass.
Remember, San Antonio lost a finals game because they completely forgot to body OG Anunoby, who swooped in for a game-winning tip-in. While that may not show up in the stat sheet, the little things can help win games. With the youth and explosion that San Antonio features in the backcourt, adding a veteran could be the missing ingredient.
So far, in the early hours of free agency, the Lakers stand to lose multiple players. While James remains the most glaring departure, role players who provide scoring cannot be understated. Granted, Los Angeles inked Austin Reaves to a lucrative deal, but losing three veteran players could hurt. Reeves and Luka Doncic form the new nucleus of the team.
However, without a dynamic player like James, there’s a void for a viable scoring option. Moreover, with Hachimura’s ability to make threes, losing a shooter also hurts. The Lakers look like a partial rebuild, needing viable additions to stay relevant in the Western Conference.
