Lakers and Spurs named top landing spots for elite $51 million 3-point shooter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Los Angeles Lakers have a plethora of key players set to hit free agency this offseason, including forward Rui Hachimura.

Since being traded to the Lakers from the Washington Wizards in January 2023, Hachimura has established himself as an integral part of the team's rotation. Hachimura has shot over 40% from three in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 44% in 2025, and has also developed into a solid defender.

Hachimura played out the final season of his three-year, $51 million deal with the Lakers and will be looking for another payday this summer. Los Angeles should look to bring him back, but Hachimura could also garner interest from a Western Conference contender if he hits the open market.

Lakers and Spurs named top free-agent landing spots for Hachimura

Pro Football Network's Cooper Kleinberg listed Hachimura as one of the top free agents and mentioned the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs as possible landing spots.

"Rui Hachimura was a key contributor in the Lakers’ playoff run, consistently hitting shots from behind the arc. Standing at 6-foot-8, Hachimura is the ideal shooting forward that has become so coveted in today’s game," Kleinberg wrote.

At the end of the day, Hachimura could be the odd man out in Los Angeles. With LeBron James and Austin Reaves also free agents, the Lakers may not have the money to bring Hachimura, who figures to earn a pay raise after another quality season.

If Hachimura finds a new home in free agency, San Antonio could be an option. The Spurs need to add some more firepower after falling short in the finals to the New York Knicks, so signing Hachimura for more shooting in the frontcourt to pair with Julian Champagnie would be an electric move.

With franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama and young stars Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper still on their rookie deals, there must be urgency in San Antonio to acquire as much talent as possible to surround their young big three before they all earn mega extensions. Wembanyama will likely sign a massive rookie scale extension in the coming months, but that contract won't kick in until the 2027-2028 season.

Overall, if the Spurs can afford to sign a stretch big like Hachimura to bolster their depth and frontcourt play alongside Wembanyama, they should absolutely do so.

However, even if the Lakers re-sign James and Reaves to big-money contracts, general manager Rob Pelinka should still find a way to retain Hachimura, who is the perfect role player to have alongside Luka Doncic for the future.

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