After a couple of months full of rumors and speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers have finally made a trade, bringing in an exciting young player that could flourish playing under Darvin Ham and alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Japanese forward Rui Hachimura is on his way to Los Angeles to join the Lakers after a tumultuous tenure with the Washington Wizards. A move that fans love could be the beginning of something good for the Lakers amid a season where they’ve struggled to get things going and are yet to reach the .500 mark.
Hachimura is still young and has shown flashes of his quality over the years, which makes fans dream of the start of good things for their team. Moreover, it seems like the team is on the same page, as their plans regarding Rui go beyond the 2022-23 NBA season.
Los Angeles Lakers Intend To Keep Rui Hachimura In Free Agency
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that the Purple and Gold have big plans for Hachimura, who they think can be a valuable piece for the future of the franchise.
Hachimura, 24, had grown unhappy without a rookie contract extension in the preseason and became less of a priority with the emergence of Kyle Kuzma in the Wizards’ frontcourt.
Los Angeles acquired Hachimura with the intention of signing him to an extension this summer, sources said. Hachimura can be a restricted free agent.
A couple of years ago, it was reported that the Lakers wanted to pair up Anthony Davis with a young star. While many thought they were talking about Luka Doncic, the rest of the fans had lower expectations. Of course, it’s not like Hachimura can develop into a star in the league, but nobody thought they would be talking about Rui as the second star of the team in 2023.
This is still a great addition, and the Lakers should get better with Hachimura on the court. Perhaps they can focus on developing him this season and see if that pays off, but right now, this move looks flawless for the Lakers.
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