The Los Angeles Lakers have been pressed to sign Rui Hachimura to a contract extension ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Hachimura is in the final year of his current deal and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
On the September 22 episode of “The Zach Lowe Show,” the former ESPN journalist discussed a bunch of topics with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, including the Lakers being linked to Andrew Wiggins despite having Hachimura.
Amick believes Hachimura fits well with Luka Doncic, while Lowe urged the franchise to secure him with a new contract.
They can offer Rui Hachimura enough money to pique his interest,” Lowe said. “I think his extension would start somewhere around 26 million and go up from there based on his current salary. I think Rui Hachimura is good, I think he’s actually underrated,” Lowe said.
The problem for the Lakers is they are looking to have cap flexibility for the 2027 offseason, when a bunch of superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could become free agents. Sam Amick pointed it out in his report for The Athletic on September 16.
Hachimura might not be a great defender, but he’s solid at that end of the floor. He’s also an effective 3-point shooter in his first two full seasons with the Lakers. He shot 42.2% during the 2023-24 season and 41.3% last season. He can be Luka Doncic’s P.J. Washington with the Lakers.
Rui Hachimura Unlikely to Sign an Extension with Los Angeles Lakers
One of the extension-eligible players for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason is Rui Hachimura. He would be an unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t sign an extension before the end of the 2025-26 season, according to HoopsRumors’ Arthur Hill.
While Zach Lowe opined on his podcast that there will be some discussions between the Lakers and Hachimura, it’s unlikely that they would agree on a new deal. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha shared the same sentiment on the August 15 episode of his “Buha’s Block” podcast.
With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers in the next six weeks. 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,” Buha said.
The Lakers‘ training camp is set to start on September 29, but several players have already begun working out at the team’s facilities over the past week.
NBA Exec Doesn’t See Andrew Wiggins Getting Traded to The Lakers
Andrew Wiggins‘ name has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason because of the franchise’s desire to add scoring and perimeter defense. However, an unnamed executive told Ashish Mathur of Lakers Daily that it would be shocking if the Miami Heat traded Wiggins to the Lakers.
It’s because Heat president Pat Riley is still upset with LeBron James for leaving South Beach in 2014. The executive doesn’t see Riley helping James build a better team at his expense.
Lakers Urged to Give ‘Underrated’ Player an Extension