Sports Media

Lakers Acquire Rui Hachimura

Trey Daubert / NBA / January 23, 2023

Lakers Acquire Rui Hachimura

Hachimama in a Lakers uniform! Now that’s LA right there! The Lakers have limited assets to try to improve their roster and somehow likely just pulled off a heist. Los Angeles has agreed to a trade with the Washington Wizards for Rui Hachimura. Three second round picks and Kendrick Nunn will head to Washington. The Lakers had seven second rounders at their disposal and will send three to Washington in this deal.

Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news:

The Lakers and Wizards are still finalizing the second-round picks in the deal, a conversation that's included a 2023 via Chicago and LA's own in 2029, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers have seven second-round picks available to include in a trade. https://t.co/vVXRSkP0uf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2023

Hachimura, 24, is a worthwhile gamble for the Lakers. The former Gonzaga product is currently sporting a stat line of 13 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Hachimura also has a shooting percentage of 48.8 and 33.7 from 3-point range.

Hachimura isn’t exactly the best defender in the world but at minimum, this is an upgrade over what the Lakers had with Kendrick Nunn. With LA, Nunn was essentially stealing money with the Lakers. Nunn has a -0.3 win share right now. For the Lakers to cash in on a few second round picks, the Hachimura trade makes this Lakers team better.

NBA Shorts: Was Brandon Clarke The Steal Of The 2019 NBA Draft?

Rui Hachimura has removed himself from this answer. But… his upside remains very much in tact.

Hachimura will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. It remains to be seen what his next contract will be. The Wizards according to the trade report were unable to work out an extension which prompted them to move on from the former 9th overall pick in 2019. Not exactly the hope when you take a guy with the 9th pick in the Draft.

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