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NBA Free Agency: 3 biggest decisions facing the Lakers this offseason

By Nicholas Chiarito

Apr 16, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts during the second half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts during the second half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rui Hachimura
May 10, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) shoots the basketball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs conference semifinals round at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Lakers biggest offseason decisions: 2. Keeping Rui Hachimura

Another great pickup for the Lakers in the middle of the season was Rui Hachimura. In his 33 regular season games in L.A., he would average 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds shooting 49 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3. In the playoffs, he would show up huge for the Lakers, averaging 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds shooting 56 percent from the field and 49 percent from 3.

Rui’s performance in the playoffs has put a lot more pressure on the Lakers to keep him around. Rui, like Reaves, is going into free agency as a restricted free agent. The Lakers will have the right to match any offer that he receives but matching a decently high offer could end up hurting their depth and ability to sign other players.

If the Lakers were to keep Rui and Reaves that means that they could potentially lose out on keeping players such as D’Angelo Russell and Lonnie Walker IV, who also played key roles for the Lakers. But based on the playoffs, it would be much wiser for them to keep Rui and Reaves and lose both of those players than to re-sign D’Lo and lose out on both Rui and Reaves

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