The Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns were considered strong suitors for Rui Hachimura at the trade deadline, so they could steal him from the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Hachimura becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.
“For any clues to rival teams that could throw an offer sheet Hachimura’s direction, Indiana and Phoenix were considered strong suitors for him back in February, sources said, and nearly completed deals with the Wizards for him,” Fischer wrote.
As a restricted free agent, Hachimura can either re-sign with the Lakers or sign an offer sheet with another team. Los Angeles can match any offer sheet Hachimura signs as long as it comes within 48 hours.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic is reporting that the Lakers intend to bring both Hachimura and Austin Reaves back. Reaves becomes a restricted free agent this offseason as well.
“Los Angeles can match any outside offer either player receives from another team to retain them,” Buha wrote. “As The Athletic reported Tuesday, the Lakers intend to keep both players this summer, even if it means matching their respective maximum offer sheets, according to multiple team sources who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.”
Hachimura averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Lakers in the 2023 playoffs in 16 games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Denver Nuggets. The 25-year-old shot 55.7% from the field, 48.7% from beyond the arc, and 88.2% from the free-throw line.
The Washington Wizards drafted Hachimura with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Gonzaga product has career averages of 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
The Lakers lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals in four games. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are big fans of Hachimura, sources told NBA Analysis Network, so the purple and gold will be the favorites in the Hachimura sweepstakes.
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