Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Rui Hachimura.
Three years ago, the Lakers made a bet on Rui Hachimura, acquiring the free-agent-to-be on the hopes they could unlock his potential after an underwhelming run in Washington.
Fast forward to present day and Rui has developed into one of the league’s very best 3-point shooters,
making good on their gamble. When the Lakers have needed him over the years in the postseason, he’s repeatedly stepped up.
In the playoffs this year, he elevated his game once again, punctuated by one of the best games of his career in the team’s Game 4 loss to OKC. Now, he’s set for free agency once more with the Lakers facing another decision about whether he’s part of the future.
How did he play?
In the season as a whole, it was a mixed bag. If you look at his raw numbers, his numbers were down effectively across the board this season. He averaged his fewest points (11.5), rebounds (3.3) and assists (0.8) per game across a full season since he joined the Lakers, a byproduct of both fewer minutes than last year while also having his role streamlined.
His 3-point attempt rate was at a career high, as was his effective field goal percentage. While he still took a fair amount of long twos this year (13.6% of his field goal attempts), his shots inside 10 feet were dramatically down. The average distance of his shot was 16.5 feet, marking the first time in his career that number has eclipsed even 15 feet.
In short, the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick pushed his shot attempts more and more to the perimeter with positive results as he shot 44.3% from range.
While Rui’s production fluctuated throughout the year, his shooting remained constant. Rui began the season in the starting lineup, but eventually moved to the bench as part of the logical swap with Marcus Smart. It didn’t pay off immediately for Rui, as he struggled in his new role.
Eventually, though, he found a groove and, over a 29-game span from late January up to the season-changing loss in Oklahoma City, Rui averaged 10.2 points per game on 52.2% shooting from the field and 45.7% from range.
That eventually set the table for his playoffs, which were much-discussed. He averaged 17.5 points per game on an absurd 56.9% shooting from three. He was huge in a postseason run where the Lakers needed players to step up.
Even if it came in a role he isn’t likely to play if he returns to the Lakers, there’s certainly something to be said about Rui’s ability to step up in the playoffs time and time again.
His performance left things on a high heading into the offseason and could have made him some money along the way, too.
What is the contract situation moving forward?
After signing a three-year, $51 million deal in 2023, Rui is set for unrestricted free agency this summer.
Should he be back?
The price point will be the key here, but that would apply to most of the team’s free agents. At the end of the day, it would be hard to replace what Rui does.
There’s plenty of discussion about what he doesn’t do well, like rebound and defend, and the Lakers need more of that either from Rui or, more likely, other wing players acquired this summer.
But there is also something to be said about a sharpshooting wing who has years of chemistry with Austin Reaves, LeBron James and, at least since he’s been here, Luka Dončić. That is also valuable.
Losing Rui for nothing would both be a tough pill to swallow from an asset management standpoint as well as create a big hole that would need filled.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
