The Los Angeles Lakers have made a final decision on Rui Hachimura. According to Lakers reporter Aaron Cohen, the Lakers will not be bringing Hachimura back.
What happened?
The Lakers had a busy offseason, with the LeBron James bombshell and the Walker Kessler blockbuster. They made a quick succession of roster moves after James announced he wasn’t coming back. L.A. signed multiple free agents to create depth around superstar point guard Luka Doncic.
Why it matters for Los Angeles Lakers
Rui Hachimura entered unrestricted free agency after a stellar 2025-26 season. He has yet to sign a new contract despite interest from teams. Hachimura arrived in Los Angeles from the Washington Wizards in a midseason trade during the 2022-23 season. He made a shining impact and demonstrated a clean fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
What comes next?
With Hachimura’s exit, the Lakers have a serious hole at the wing position. Replacing James and Hachimura will be no easy task. The franchise has one player high on its priority list: Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga, 23, would be a high upside addition for the Lakers.
The Lakers' recent form has been poor, with a record of 0W-0D-5L in their last 5 games. Their last result was a 110-115 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2026-05-12.
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 110-115 |
The Lakers will look to head in a new direction with the Luka Doncic era firmly underway. Losing Hachimura and James in the same offseason could come back to haunt L.A.
