Deal Close: The Lakers’ trade plans to acquire a $51 million reserve have been made public by an insider.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ strategies are becoming more apparent as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, two guards, have frequently been mentioned in trade rumors; the Lakers aren’t considering moving the latter at this time. Rui Hachimura, whom the Lakers acquired prior to the trade deadline in the previous season, has lagged behind them.
“The Lakers wish to retain Reaves and Hachimura,” Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report stated on January 16.
The Lakers are interested in trading for Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray, according to Pincus’ information.
This season, Hachimura, 25, is averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 37% from beyond the arc and 49% from the field. This past offseason, he re-signed with the Lakers for a three-year deal worth $51 million.
Hachimura, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, played his first four seasons in the league with the Washington Wizards.
He was acquired by the Lakers in January 2022 in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and a bundle of draft picks.
This past offseason, Hachimura helped ignite their Western Conference Finals and forged a close relationship with LeBron James of the Lakers, the 21-year-old star referring to his young teammate as his “understudy”.
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Throughout the season, Hachimura has dealt with injuries, most recently a calf strain that kept him out of action for five games and surgery for a broken nose.