Latest news with #Hachimura
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Insider: Lakers are divided on whether to trade two key starters in order to improve
Insider: Lakers are divided on whether to trade two key starters in order to improve It seems to be generally believed that if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to successfully address their roster needs, including their dire need for a starting-caliber center, they will have to give up some significant value in a trade. That could mean giving up more than rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht, a 2031 first-round draft pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap, which was the core of the package they offered the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams before Williams failed his physical and that trade was rescinded. Many feel that starting forward Rui Hachimura, who can be an impact player but is sometimes rendered invisible, will have to be jettisoned in order for L.A. to upgrade its roster. Some are also calling for the team to give up Austin Reaves, who raised his game yet again this season. But according to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the organization is split on whether Hachimura and Reaves should stay or go. Via ClutchPoints: "A first-round playoff exit with home-court advantage can really shake an organization," Irwin wrote. "Losing that series in only five games only intensifies the rattling. In the Los Angeles Lakers' case, losing 12 of their last 14 playoff games is enough to drive the otherwise thoroughly spoiled fan base absolutely insane. Now, entering the first full season of the Luka Doncic era, a fairly fierce debate has broken out internally on which steps to take this summer. "First and foremost, Doncic isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That is a given. LeBron James has a player option for next season that he's considered likely to pick up and has a no-trade clause, so his name can be written in ink on the roster as well. From there, things get very dicey, very quickly, as, according to league and team sources, a fierce debate has broken out about what to do with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. "To be clear, both are extremely well-liked internally. No Lakers decision maker is looking ahead to the day when they can finally rid themselves of two of the better moves any team has made on the margins in recent years. Still, this roster desperately needs a facelift and, because the Lakers only have one first-round pick and a few mid-tier expiring contracts to work with, the sense around the league is, in order to take the steps forward the Lakers are hoping to, they'll have to part with actual contributors on top of the little draft capital at their disposal." Irwin did make it clear that the Lakers aren't "seriously considering any trade offer for Reaves that doesn't land them an All-Star" who could complement Luka Doncic well for years to come. In addition, Hachimura is just 27 years of age, and he could help keep things afloat after LeBron James leaves. This whole matter is complicated by the fact that Hachimura has one year left on his contract and Reaves can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer. A recent report indicated that Reaves will wait to opt out in 2026 and then seek a new contract that would pay him around $30 million a year.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big three-team trade idea gives Lakers a center and much more wing and forward depth
Big three-team trade idea gives Lakers a center and much more wing and forward depth It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers need a starting-caliber center who will defend, rebound and run the floor well. But they also need improved guard and wing depth if they are to become true championship contenders next season. There have been numerous trade ideas circulating on the internet that would provide them with that type of starting-level center. But hardly any of them would address any of their other roster needs. Jackson Caudell of Sports Illustrated came up with a trade idea involving the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks that would not only answer L.A.'s problems at the 5 but also give it a greatly upgraded bench. In this mock trade, L.A. would give up forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt, big man Maxi Kleber, rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht, guard Shake Milton, an unprotected 2031 first-round draft pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap. In return, it would receive former All-Star center Jarrett Allen, forward Georges Niang, wing Isaac Okoro and guard Terance Mann, as well as 2027 and 2029 second-round draft picks. Via Sports Illustrated: "A lot of the talk is going to be around the Lakers trying to get a center to put around [Luka] Doncic and LeBron James, which was a clear weakness for them in their postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves," Caudell wrote. "Will the Lakers swing big in their attempt to get a center for this team? "... Allen is a picture perfect fit beside Doncic and James. He is a rim-running threat on offense and can protect the paint and rebound, the exact qualities the Lakers are looking for. He can be paired with Doncic for the long-term future and is already on a good contract. Mann and Okoro give the Lakers two defensive wings to add to their bench, while Niang is a good shooter and veteran leader on an expiring contract." Allen seems to perfectly fit the profile of the type of center the Lakers want and need. He is the type of lob threat Doncic has had success with in the past, and at age 27, he could team up with Doncic in L.A. for years to come. He averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 28.0 minutes a game while leading the league with a 70.6% field-goal percentage this season. Niang could perhaps be somewhat of a replacement for Hachimura up front. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, the power forward has almost as much size as Hachimura, and he's a career 39.9% 3-point shooter who averaged 16.6 points per 36 minutes per season. By comparison, Hachimura averaged 14.9 points per 36 minutes this season. Niang is also a higher-volume 3-point shooter than Hachimura, which would help a Lakers team that needs more floor spacing around Doncic and James. Okoro, who is 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, can play the 2 as well as the 3. He can be an effective defender against certain players, and he has become a decent, if not a solid, 3-point shooter in his five NBA seasons. Lakers fans may remember Mann from his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he can play both guard spots and at the 3, and he has proven to be a spark plug off the bench on both ends of the floor. He has a career average of 8.1 points in 22.1 minutes a game on 50.2% overall shooting 37.2% from 3-point land. This mock trade looks like a very good one for Los Angeles. But it remains to be seen how bold the team will be on the trade market once talks begin in earnest just a few weeks from now.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Insider Reveals Lakers Could Move Key Piece in Offseason Trade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the offseason with more work to do. After trading for Luka Doncic, the team looked good, but the playoffs showed that they need a lot more help. In that playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers had no answer defensively. They lost in five games, which leaves a lot of questions for Rob Pelinka to answer. Pelinka will have to get creative to make the moves necessary to win a championship. Part of that creativeness may be having to deal away key pieces on the current roster. One name to keep an eye on could be forward Rui Hachimura. General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on September 25, 2024 in El Segundo, California. General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on September 25, 2024 in El Segundo, California. Photo byAccording to a report from Khobi Price of the Orange County Register, Hachimura is a name to keep an eye on as the offseason approaches. Read more: Lakers' Bronny James Among NBA's Elite in One Unique Category "In 2025-26, Hachimura will be on the last season of a three-year, $51 million contract he signed with the Lakers during the 2023 offseason," Price wrote. "With an $18.3 million salary for next season that is part of an expiring deal, and it being evident that he's still rounding out his game and developing, Hachimura will likely come up in offseason trade buzz as the Lakers look to upgrade their roster after back-to-back first-round playoff exits." Throughout the course of the 2024-25 NBA season, Hachimura continued showing signs of development. He dealt with some injury issues during the year, but still put up great production. Hachimura played in 59 games with 57 of them being starts. He averaged 13.1 points, five rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent from three-point range. Read more: Reggie Miller Under Fire From NBA Fans After Pacers-Knicks Game 1 At just 27 years old, Hachimura would be a coveted target on the trade market if he is made available by Los Angeles. One of the big needs for the Lakers this offseason will be finding a new starting center. Mark Williams was acquired ahead of the deadline, but the deal was rescinded due to an issue with his physical. Los Angeles needs rim protection and rebounding from whoever it brings in at center. Keeping Hachimura would be the clear preference for the Lakers, but if it takes moving him to make an upgrade, it's something they'll have to consider. For more Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
The Mainichi
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Teen has sights set on being Japan team's next Rui Hachimura
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A youth basketball standout with dreams of emulating Los Angeles Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura has emerged as an intriguing prospect for the Japanese men's national basketball program. Already standing 201 centimeters at age 15, frontcourt player Adam Elmasri is being developed at the highly regarded youth academy of B-League club the Yokohama B-Corsairs. The youngster, born to a Japanese mother and Australian father, drew attention at the under-15 tournament for B-League academy sides in March where he helped his team reach the semifinals. He was also selected for the subsequent training camp for Japan under-16 national team candidates. Elmasri, who calls Hachimura his role model, is clear about his ambitions. "I want to go to the NBA, that's my purpose," he said. Originally from Yokohama, he moved to Australia at a young age and began playing basketball at 11. He returned to Japan last October and joined Yokohama's youth program. While his game is still raw, he has shown great potential. Among those with high hopes for Elmasri is B-Corsairs academy director Takashi Shirasawa, who previously coached Akira Jacobs, a member of Japan's 2024 Olympic team currently playing at the University of Hawaii. "He has a ton of talent," Shirasawa said. "It will be exciting to see how he develops and how we can help." Elmasri said his coaching at the academy emphasized frontcourt play, but he hoped to develop an all-around game, enabling him to fill a range of positions. "Right now, I'm very tall compared to the group that I'm playing in, for sure, so I'm focusing on center and power forward," he said. "But I think in the future, maybe even under-18s, I'll start trying to be an all-around player." While he aims to follow in Hachimura's footsteps to the NBA, Elmasri also hopes to take part in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in Australia, where he maintains strong connections.
Kyodo News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Basketball: Teen has sights set on being Japan team's next Hachimura
KYODO NEWS - 14 minutes ago - 15:48 | Sports, All A youth basketball standout with dreams of emulating Los Angeles Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura has emerged as an intriguing prospect for the Japanese men's national basketball program. Already standing 201 centimeters at age 15, frontcourt player Adam Elmasri is being developed at the highly regarded youth academy of B-League club the Yokohama B-Corsairs. The youngster, born to a Japanese mother and Australian father, drew attention at the under-15 tournament for B-League academy sides in March where he helped his team reach the semifinals. He was also selected for the subsequent training camp for Japan under-16 national team candidates. Elmasri, who calls Hachimura his role model, is clear about his ambitions. "I want to go to the NBA, that's my purpose," he said. Originally from Yokohama, he moved to Australia at a young age and began playing basketball at 11. He returned to Japan last October and joined Yokohama's youth program. While his game is still raw, he has shown great potential. Among those with high hopes for Elmasri is B-Corsairs academy director Takashi Shirasawa, who previously coached Akira Jacobs, a member of Japan's 2024 Olympic team currently playing at the University of Hawaii. "He has a ton of talent," Shirasawa said. "It will be exciting to see how he develops and how we can help." Elmasri said his coaching at the academy emphasized frontcourt play, but he hoped to develop an all-around game, enabling him to fill a range of positions. "Right now, I'm very tall compared to the group that I'm playing in, for sure, so I'm focusing on center and power forward," he said. "But I think in the future, maybe even under-18s, I'll start trying to be an all-around player." While he aims to follow in Hachimura's footsteps to the NBA, Elmasri also hopes to take part in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in Australia, where he maintains strong connections. Related coverage: Basketball: Hachimura ready to step up for title-chasing Lakers Basketball: Grizzlies guard Kawamura ends NBA rookie season on high Basketball:Japan guard Kazuma Tsuya aims to spur others with hearing issues
