Los Angeles Lakers free agent Rui Hachimura remains unsigned nearly one week into free agency. After averaging 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 56.9% from three-point range in the 2026 NBA playoffs, Hachimura was expected to have a better market. The early predictions suggested the Lakers might re-sign him, but that wasn’t the case.
The Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors reportedly showed interest, but there’s been little to no movement from either team. As Hachimura remains unsigned, NBA insider Sam Vecenie mentioned the Charlotte Hornets as an “interesting” fit.
“Is the move here, maybe Charlotte? Maybe that’s your Miles Bridges replacement for a year,” Vecenie said on Sunday on the Game Theory Podcast. “I know they just got Naz Reid, obviously, but you bring Rui in as the sixth man. You always have a four out there who can really shoot it, which is, I think, what they want schematically. … Charlotte’s kind of an Interesting one to me.”
The Hornets have a surplus of forwards at the four, including Naz Reid, Grant Williams, Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith. Sam Vecenie predicted the Hornets would likely make a trade and offload one or two of them, except Reid, to make a lucrative offer to Hachimura, who, at this stage, is a better player than Williams, O’Neale and Finney-Smith.
Vecenie also mentioned a potential sign-and-trade with the Lakers.
“Is there any way you can execute some sort of sign-and-trade with the Lakers … the Lakers probably just want the trade exception anyway, so I imagine they’d be pretty amenable.”
Los Angeles is already hard-capped at the first apron after trading for Walker Kessler in a separate sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz. They also traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks to improve their draft chest, which had zero first-round picks and only had one second-round pick for the next seven years before the Ayton trade.
Los Angeles can potentially make another sign-and-trade, and instead of taking contracts in return, it can demand draft capital, mainly multiple second-round picks. Charlotte has 20 second-round picks to trade, the second-most in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers prioritizing Jonathan Kuminga over Rui Hachimura: Report
It seems that the Los Angeles Lakers have all but assured that Rui Hachimura isn’t returning next season. The Lakers never prioritized the forward despite having over $50 million in cap space this summer.
Their first order of business was to offer Austin Reaves a four-year, $185 million max extension, followed by Walker Kessler’s signing. Even then, Los Angeles’ focus was on other additions like Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who they reportedly signed in a 30-minute window on Wednesday.
On Saturday, NBA insider Jake Fischer’s report added more substance to the Lakers’ suggestive stance on Hachimura, claiming they are more interested in Jonathan Kuminga.
“There’s definitely Lakers interest in Kuminga, too,” Fischer reported for Bleacher Report. “The Lakers, to my understanding, were very in on Kuminga yesterday; they’ve maintained contact there. There’s definitely a pitch that’s been made about the opportunity he could have to help Luka Doncic contend in the Western Conference … Rui Hachimura, to my understanding, is not a priority for the Lakers.”
It seems the Lakers are prioritizing players with high upside over retaining the ones who have been tried and tested. Hachimura has been in Los Angeles since the start of 2023, and while individually, he impressed with his shooting, some of his limitations held the team back several times.
On the other hand, Kuminga doesn’t have Hachimura’s track record. However, his upside as one of the league’s most athletic players, a self-sufficient scorer and a tenacious defender when motivated, could make him a compelling target.
Los Angeles might also land the former lottery pick at a discount, given there are no reports of other teams showing interest in him.
Read more:
- Where Could Rui Hachimura Play Next Season? Examining Three Best Fits For Lakers Free Agent
- Kevin Durant Could Set Sights on Joining .1M All-NBA Guard if Trade Opportunity Arises: Report
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