Despite having a lot of big decisions to make this offseason, trading Rui Hachimura doesn’t appear to be something the Los Angeles Lakers feel they need to do.
On the Buha’s Block YouTube Show (starts at 18:40 mark), The Athletic’s Jovan Buha explained the Lakers aren’t “actively” shopping or looking to trade Hachimura this summer.
There doesn’t appear to be any talk of Hachimura being a trade target right now, but things can always change once we get deeper into the offseason as the Lakers start planning for potential moves.
Hachimura was brought up as a potential trade candidate before the in-season deadline, but Buha noted at the time that “rival teams just didn’t covet” him among some of the other players on the Lakers.
Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Lakers could end up being a second-apron team if they keep Max Christie as a restricted free agent and their 2024 first-round draft pick. This also depends on them keeping LeBron James, either on his $51.4 million player option for next season or on a new deal.
In addition to James’ contract decision, the Lakers could also have to replace D’Angelo Russell if he turns down his $18.7 million option.
Hachimura’s $17 million salary could be very appealing to teams that are looking for size and shooting. His 13.6 points per game this season was his second-highest total in the NBA (13.8 in 2020-21). He’s also shot over 40 percent from three-point range in two of the last three seasons, including a 42.2 percent success rate this past year.
The Lakers’ vision for next season won’t come into full focus until they hire a new head coach. Hachimura is an important piece for the roster, but the team’s roster situation and his tradeable salary could make him the focus of talks later this summer.