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The Los Angeles Lakers have a ton of moving parts, but the biggest unknown for the team is actually a player who has gone under the radar during his time in LA.
Forward Rui Hachimura has been a relatively unsung hero for the Lakers, typically raising his level in the postseason and providing consistently solid forward play during the regular season.
Look no further than his 2025 postseason, where he averaged 17.5 points on 56.8% from deep. With a shorthanded squad, he kept them afloat with his timely three-point shooting.
However, Hachimura is now a free agent, hitting the open market after an offseason and a playoff run that showcased the most valuable skills in the modern NBA — 3-point shooting and solid defense.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Rui Hachimura (28) on the court in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
And for the Lakers, his performance could not have come at a worse time, considering they already have so many free agents and the money will run out quickly if they try to hold on to everyone.
“Several league sources told ESPN they believe Hachimura could be the odd man out and that he might need to explore the market to find a desired deal,” McMenamin wrote.
The Lakers have Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes hitting free agency along with Rui Hachimura. Additionally, the LeBron James cloud lingers, as he will certainly want his fair share of the money.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
With so many players entering the open market, things will be tricky for the president of baseball operations, Rob Pelinka. Also, the Lakers want to upgrade their center position, which will take another chunk of cap space.
Hachimura, by all accounts, will be on the outside looking in, and it will take some willingness on his part to take some sort of pay cut to stay on the Lakers.
The post The Lakers’ Biggest Offseason Question Isn’t What You Think appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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Forward Rui Hachimura has been a relatively unsung hero for the Lakers, typically raising his level in the postseason and providing consistently solid forward play during the regular season.
Look no further than his 2025 postseason, where he averaged 17.5 points on 56.8% from deep. With a shorthanded squad, he kept them afloat with his timely three-point shooting.
However, Hachimura is now a free agent, hitting the open market after an offseason and a playoff run that showcased the most valuable skills in the modern NBA — 3-point shooting and solid defense.
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Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Rui Hachimura (28) on the court in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
And for the Lakers, his performance could not have come at a worse time, considering they already have so many free agents and the money will run out quickly if they try to hold on to everyone.
“Several league sources told ESPN they believe Hachimura could be the odd man out and that he might need to explore the market to find a desired deal,” McMenamin wrote.
Who else do the Lakers have hitting free agency?
The Lakers have Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes hitting free agency along with Rui Hachimura. Additionally, the LeBron James cloud lingers, as he will certainly want his fair share of the money.
You must be registered for see images attach
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
With so many players entering the open market, things will be tricky for the president of baseball operations, Rob Pelinka. Also, the Lakers want to upgrade their center position, which will take another chunk of cap space.
Hachimura, by all accounts, will be on the outside looking in, and it will take some willingness on his part to take some sort of pay cut to stay on the Lakers.
The post The Lakers’ Biggest Offseason Question Isn’t What You Think appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
