It is incredibly difficult to construct a championship-caliber roster in the NBA, but the front office for the Los Angeles Lakers managed to do just that back in 2019. The team would go on to win it all in 2020, but just as the front office had done a great job putting together that group, they messed it all up in a flash.
In a couple of years, the Lakers basically let go of everybody from that team except for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as they made some terrible decisions. It took them from being champions to missing the playoffs in 2022, and they are looking to steady the ship now. It was reported that the team didn’t want to compound its previous mistakes with more win-now moves, and after holding off for the longest time, they carefully plotted a trade for Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards. They have been given a lot of praise for this move, and Pelicans analyst Antonio Daniels thinks they did a good job as well.
According to multiple reports, the #Wizards are finalizing a deal sending Rui Hachimura to the #Lakers
🏀 @adaniels33 reacts to the trade #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/bJnHkXHSgC
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) January 23, 2023
“I think it’s a much better trade for the Lakers yes because if you think about what the Lakers lost…. when I look at if trades are good or bad for a respective organization, it’s not just about what they got, it’s also about what did they give up to get what they got. You gave up Kendrick Nunn, he hasn’t worked in L.A., that’s safe to say and you gave up future picks, second-round picks. Bleep those picks is what you hear all the time. If there’s an opportunity to get better, (then) get better and Rui Hachimura, he’s young and he’s just scratching the surface. I think it’s a low-risk, high-reward trade for the Los Angeles Lakers.”
It is a very low-risk trade, no doubt. They gave up Kendrick Nunn, who hasn’t exactly been on fire for them and he is going to be a free agent in the summer anyway. The Lakers also didn’t have to part with their first-round picks, so on the odd chance that Hachimura flops, they wouldn’t have given up much for him. On the flip side, if he does play well, they would have landed a fine young player at a very low cost. Everyone has been very critical of the Lakers’ front office, but they deserve credit for making this move.
The Lakers Plan To Re-Sign Rui Hachimura
Hachimura is a very talented player who found himself in a very crowded frontcourt with the Wizards. They also wanted to focus on re-signing Kyle Kuzma, which made Hachimura expendable. The Lakers clearly see a lot of potential in him, as Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that they plan to give him an extension in the summer.
If things work out perfectly, the Lakers will have a solid piece to supplement James and Davis moving forward. They are also looking to retain Austin Reaves as they try to build up a competent roster for the future.
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