Los Angeles and its key forward are trying to figure things out.
Lakers' Rui Hachimura gets $18 million contract update before potential free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News
Rui Hachimura is entering the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
For the 2025-26 campaign, Hachimura is slated to make $18,259,259.
What comes next?
That's less certain, although there's been a development that isn't necessarily in Hachimura's favor.
According to beat reporter Jovan Buha on his latest podcast, Hachimura is unlikely to get a contract extension before the new season gets underway.
“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.”
Hachimura is 27 right now, and he'd likely get strong offers in free agency next summer if he makes it there.
The Lakers originally picked up the Japanese star in January 2023 from the Wizards.
Hachimura became a full-time L.A. starter for the first time in 2024-25. He averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50.9% from the floor, 41.3% from 3-point range and 77.0% from the foul line.
The Lakers already are expected to have LeBron James off their books after this season ahead.
If they happen to let Hachimura go, too, it sets them up to line up some big money for the next offseason or two to try and build around Luka Doncic, the new face of the franchise who recently signed a contract extension of his own.
But for now, Hachimura has to prepare for the new season knowing that he's entering a contract year.
Category: Basketball
