LeBron James has been vocal about his desire for the Los Angeles Lakers getting him help. Monday, they acquired a former lottery-pick reinforcement.
The Lakers have explored upgrades to their roster for weeks but have been hesitant to include first-round picks in 2027 or 2029. In this deal, they acquired Hachimura , the No. 9 pick from the 2019 draft, for guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
It’s not much of a return for Washington, who began shopping Hachimura when it couldn’t agree on an extension for the 24-year-old forward — possibly because he demanded a trade. When asked if he requested a move, Hachimura told reporters, “No comment.”
With the young forward approaching restricted free agency, the Wizards may have figured it was better to get something for him, even if it that meant second-round picks well into the future.
Two of the picks headed to the Wiz are ones they traded to Los Angeles in the Russell Westbrook deal in 2021. The 2023 Bulls pick and the Wizards’ 2028 second-rounder both went to L.A. along with Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell.
Hachimura lost his starting job last season, playing behind the similarly skilled Kuzma at the power forward spot. He’s averaging 13 points this year in 30 games. Hachimura should provide scoring off the bench for the Lakers, if nothing else, but with Lonnie Walker battling knee problems, Hachimura might well start next to James.
It’s an ideal trade for the Lakers because they only spent a small amount of their limited trade capital — three of their seven future seconds, plus the expiring deal of Nunn, who missed all of last season after signing with L.A. This year, Nunn was averaging 6.7 points on subpar shooting, and his most memorable moment may have been hitting a huge shot against Sacramento — then allowing the Kings to fast break because he argued for a foul call instead of playing defense.
Hachiumura will join former Wizards Westbrook, Thomas Bryant and Troy Brown Jr. on this Lakers roster. The trio were teammates on the 2020-21 Wizards, who went 34-38 and finished eighth in the Eastern Conference. That’s not great, but it would be an improvement on this year’s Lakers’ record.
The Lakers intend to sign Hachimura to an extension this summer, though that depends on how well he meshes with LeBron and Co. Regardless, this team simply needed more competent, athletic players, and Hachimura certainly is that. It’s not the blockbuster Lakers fans may have been hoping for, but it could be the move that firmly cements them as a playoff team.
