Los Angeles Lakers Not Expected to Sign Rui Hachimura to Extension This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to sign Rui Hachimura to an extension this offseason, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha.

Hachimura will make $18.3 million next season in the final year of his contract.

“With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers in the next six weeks,” Buha said. “It’s certainly possible that something happens, but I would say most of what’s been out there is them wanting to keep the books clean and wanting to see whether he starts or whether he’s their sixth man and how the pieces fit this year.”

The Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards during the 2022-23 season and signed the forward to a three-year, $51 million contract on July 6, 2023. Hachimura appeared in 59 games last season. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 50.9% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles was the third seed in the West last season but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Hachimura, 27, played well in the series, averaging 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 49.1% overall and 48.4% from 3.

The Lakers lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets and signed Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart this offseason. Luka Dončić, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension on August 2, recruited Ayton and Smart.

Los Angeles second-year head coach JJ Redick is expected to start Dončić, Austin Reaves, Hachimura, LeBron James and Ayton next season. Smart, LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht will likely round out the rotation.

The Lakers currently have the sixth-best preseason odds to win the 2026 championship, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rockets and Timberwolves.