Sacramento Kings: 1 Free Agent to steal from each division rival
By Logan Struck
Los Angeles Lakers: Rui Hachimura, SF/PF
Rui Hachimura became one of the top performers on the Lakers in the postseason. After being acquired by L.A. at the trade deadline, Hachimura caught heat in the playoffs playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Even though he showed inconsistencies, Hachimura proved what he can do when given the opportunity.
The 25-year-old forward averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game with poor shooting numbers (32% from three). In the 2021-22 season, Hachimura showed more of what he can do where he shot 44.7% from deep, with the highest volume of his career.
The former top-10 pick is 6’8″ with a 7’2″ wingspan. Rui Hachimura is fantastic at using his length to his advantage on defense, as he is an above-average on-ball defender. While his defensive stats do not jump off the page, he does a great job of simply stopping the opponent from scoring.
While Hachimura’s offensive skillset might not align with the rest of the Kings roster, his 3-and-D potential is through the roof if he can find a consistent shot. While Hachimura is a restricted free agent, the Kings can try to pry him away from the Lakers by offering money they can not match. If LeBron James does not return to the team, they could be looking to head in a different direction, leading to Hachimura landing in Sacramento.