Rui Hachimura is eligible for a contract extension, but the Lakers aren’t expected to pursue a new deal before training camp opens next month, reporter Jovan Buha stated on his latest Buha’s Block podcast (YouTube link).
“With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers in the next six weeks,” Buha said. “It’s certainly possible that something happens, but I would say most of what’s been out there is them wanting to keep the books clean and wanting to see whether he starts or whether he’s their sixth man and how the pieces fit this year.”
The 27-year-old power forward became eligible for an extension when the NBA’s new calendar year began on July 6. He currently has an $18,259,259 expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t work out a new deal with L.A.
Hachimura has been a valuable contributor for the Lakers since he was acquired from Washington in January of 2023. He became a full-time starter last season and averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 59 games with .509/.413/.770 shooting numbers.
Hachimura’s future will be affected by the Lakers’ well-known desire to preserve cap space for the summer of 2027. Luka Doncic currently holds the team’s only significant contract that extends past the 2026/27 season, although Jarred Vanderbilt will have a $13.3MM player option that summer.
Whether it’s through an extension on a new contract in free agency, L.A.’s front office will eventually have to decide whether locking up a valuable asset like Hachimura is worth sacrificing some cap room in a summer that could feature a historically great free agent class.
Strangely, Rui is not a better player than he was in Washington, despite being a much better shooter. His rebounding is even worse these days, especially considering he is often used as a small-ball 5; he’s a PF that doesn’t make power plays; he draws even fewer free throws than he did when he was younger; he uses his size worse than he did as a rookie; he doesn’t use his biggest strength – the ability of getting himself free/finding pockets of space nowhere near as much anymore, and just dangles around the perimeter.
If he had his personality transplanted from Giannis, he’d be a heck of a player.
As a Wiz fan, I will always dislike him for faking mental health issues to force his way out.
Yet his box plus/minus, VORP, win shares, three-point percentage, field goal percentage, and rebounding have all improved since his time in Washington.
It’s also unfair to say he faked his mental health issues. It’s the same situation as Ben Simmons, none of us truly know what he was going through in their lives at the time.