Rob Pelinka says Rui Hachimura has grown exponentially since he’s gotten comfortable with the front office and coaching staff with his professionalism as well as on the court: “That’s really important to keep those pieces.” #Lakeshow
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Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers is rumored to be on the trade block.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter this offseason with plenty of questions. A four-game sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder ended their season Monday, exposing the gap between where this roster is and where it needs to be. Luka Doncic is recovering from a hamstring strain but will be ready for next season, with the offseason focused on building the right team around him. Big decisions on LeBron James and Austin Reaves loom large.
Amid all of that uncertainty, one situation appears headed toward a cleaner resolution.
Rui Hachimura is set for unrestricted free agency this summer. Based on everything coming out of the organization, the Lakers want him back.
GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hachimura spent much of the regular season coming off the bench with mixed results. Then the injuries hit. With Doncic and Reaves both sidelined, the 28-year-old stepped into a much larger role and delivered when it mattered most.
Across 10 playoff games, Hachimura averaged 17.5 points per game while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field and a remarkable 56.9 percent from three. He shot above 50 percent from deep in every single game of the postseason, a level of consistency that significantly boosted his value heading into free agency.
The transformation has been building for a while. Hachimura arrived from Washington as a high-volume midrange scorer and has evolved into one of the more reliable shooters in the league. That development has not gone unnoticed inside the organization.
Rob Pelinka made that clear during his exit interview Tuesday. The Lakers president of basketball operations spoke about how Hachimura’s comfort level within the franchise has directly driven his growth on the court. “That’s really important to keep those pieces,” Pelinka said, leaving little ambiguity about where the organization stands.
Hachimura’s own comments after the season reinforced that sentiment. He said he had not yet thought about free agency but made his feelings about the organization clear. “I love this team, I love this organization,” Hachimura said. He added that he appreciates everything the Lakers have done for him, though he acknowledged the business side of things is ultimately out of his hands.
Rob Pelinka says Rui Hachimura has grown exponentially since he’s gotten comfortable with the front office and coaching staff with his professionalism as well as on the court: “That’s really important to keep those pieces.” #Lakeshow
Hachimura shot 44.3 percent from three during the regular season and is widely regarded as one of the better teammates in the locker room. For a Lakers roster that will be built around Doncic’s playmaking, having a reliable shooter who can space the floor and defend is exactly the profile the organization is looking for.
According to reporting from Dan Woike of The Athletic, Hachimura is widely believed to want to stay in Los Angeles this summer. The Lakers view him as a priority. The fit is clear on both sides.
The remaining question is the contract. Hachimura’s postseason performance put him in a strong negotiating position, and the Lakers will need to weigh his price against the other roster moves they are trying to make this offseason, including decisions on James and Reaves.
Rui Hachimura says he has not thought about free agency yet, but offered this:
“I love this team, I love this organization… I really appreciate them and what they’ve done for me… I love it here, but end of the day, I’m not the one negotiating.”
GettyLakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka speaks during a press conference as Los Angeles prepares for a critical offseason involving Rui Hachimura’s future.
The Lakers are entering one of the more consequential offseasons in recent memory. The promise made to Doncic was not just to compete but to build a roster capable of winning a championship. That means finding two-way wings, a reliable center, and a secondary playmaker alongside him.
Retaining Hachimura checks one of those boxes cleanly. He fits the profile, he wants to be there, and the organization values what he brings. Getting a deal done early would allow the Lakers to focus their attention on the bigger, more complicated moves ahead.
Doncic has been clear about what he wants around him. A shooter who can defend, stay ready, and deliver in big moments is exactly what Hachimura proved he could be this postseason.
Hachimura saved his best basketball for the moments that mattered most. The Lakers noticed. So did the rest of the league.
Getting him back this summer would be a straightforward win for a franchise that has far more complicated decisions ahead. The fit is real, the desire appears mutual, and Pelinka’s comments made the organization’s intentions clear.
The price will determine everything. But the direction is pointing one way.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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