Nets, Spurs reportedly eye Lakers forward Rui Hachimura as free agency nears
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NBA free agency opens on Tuesday, June 30, and league sources say the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are preparing to pursue Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura.
Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that both franchises have identified the 28-year-old wing as a target. Brooklyn is expected to have enough cap space to present a significant offer, while San Antonio could use its full mid-level exception.
Hachimura is coming off a strong season in which he averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. He shot 51.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three on 3.9 attempts per game, producing a 62.0 true shooting percentage that ranked 32nd in the league and 18th among non-centers.
The Lakers have already added rookie Cameron Carr and reached a four-year max agreement with guard Austin Reaves, but the rest of the roster—headlined by free agents LeBron James and Hachimura—remains unsettled. Los Angeles must weigh the cost of retaining Hachimura against other roster needs as it builds around Luka Doncic and Reaves.
If Hachimura departs, the Lakers could look at Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson as a potential replacement, according to league chatter. Johnson, 30, is entering the final season of a $23.1 million contract and posted a higher true shooting percentage than Hachimura last year, albeit in fewer appearances.
The size of any offer sheet for Hachimura is likely to determine whether the Lakers match or allow him to move on when negotiations officially open next week.
Source: Lakers Nation
