Why the Rui Hachimura trade was a great move for the Lakers
Rui Hachimura joins LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles in hopes to having a good run in the second half of the regular season
The front office finally heard our cries for a trade, and they delivered two and a half weeks before the trade deadline. The Lakers announced on Monday that they acquired forward Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
The Lakers finally have some wing depth to add to their roster after many fans were really confused as to why the roster was so guard heavy.
What to expect from Rui Hachimura
With his debut looming near, many fans are really eager to see what he can do for this Lakers roster. Hachimura has a lot to offer the Lakers, as he brings a lot of size to the rotation.
Hachimura strives in the mid-range, shooting 52%. He is also exceptional from the corner three, shooting 41.3%. He can also get to the rim very easily and can play on and off the ball.
The only player on the Lakers that plays in a similar style and is tall as Hachimura is LeBron James. This should make James rely on Hachimura more and not have to drop 40 points a night to carry the team.
Hachimura’s defense is also beginning to improve with more room that he has.
On the other side, he overlooks taking three-point shots, is not always diligent defensively, and is not the guy you want defending the opposing team’s best wing player.
Hachimura’s Future with the Lakers
With the Lakers trading for Hachimura, they intend on giving him a long-term contract extension as he will be a restricted free agent this summer.
“I just want to be someone that wants me as a basketball player,” Hachimura told reporters last week after saying he was unhappy about not getting a rookie extension from the Washington Wizards and instead interested in giving Kyle Kuzma an extension.
Rui Hachimura will make his debut tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.
