With the NBA trade deadline approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to unveil their plans, shedding light on their strategy for the future.
Among the notable players caught up in trade rumors are guards D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. Interestingly, the Lakers seem adamant about retaining Reaves, a promising talent who has remained off the trade table thus far.
However, it’s not just Reaves who has been a subject of intrigue within the Lakers’ organization.
Rui Hachimura, who joined the Lakers ahead of the trade deadline last season, is another player drawing attention.
According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the Lakers have expressed a desire to keep both Reaves and Hachimura on their roster.
Hachimura, at the age of 25, has been making significant contributions, averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists this season.
He boasts impressive shooting percentages of 49% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc.
Notably, he inked a lucrative three-year, $51 million contract with the Lakers during the past offseason.
Selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, Hachimura initially spent his first four NBA seasons with the Washington Wizards.
However, in January 2022, the Lakers acquired him in a trade involving draft picks and Kendrick Nunn.
Since joining the Lakers, Hachimura has played a pivotal role in their journey to the Western Conference Finals, forging a strong bond with Lakers’ superstar LeBron James, who affectionately referred to him as his “understudy.”
Despite battling injuries this season, including a broken nose and a recent calf strain that sidelined him for five games, Hachimura has shown resilience.
In his two games since returning, he has averaged 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks.
His teammates and coaches have noted his renewed confidence on the court, emphasizing the importance of him playing his natural game.
Hachimura himself has acknowledged the significance of bringing high energy to the Lakers’ games, especially in the first quarter, as the team often finds itself playing catch-up later in the game. The Lakers currently rank 19th in first-quarter scoring and allow the second-most points in the opening frame, creating a need for improved early-game performance.
Hachimura’s impact on the Lakers’ performance is evident in their net efficiency differential, where they have a plus-2.3 rating (63rd percentile) with him on the floor this season.
This rating drops to minus-1.9 (39th percentile) when he is not in the lineup, highlighting his value to the team.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the Lakers this season, with players like Anthony Davis and Head Coach Darvin Ham acknowledging their disruptive influence.
As the Lakers navigate their challenges, they remain committed to their starting lineup and, ideally, to completing a successful turnaround in the season.
However, with the trade deadline approaching, the Lakers’ resolve to keep players like Hachimura and Reaves may be put to the test.
