When the Los Angeles Lakers signed Deandre Ayton, trust was placed in the developmental team assembled by JJ Redick and the leadership of Luka Doncic. Ayton is a remarkable talent who went No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but consistency hasn't been an ally up to this stage of his career.
For as inevitable as that burden may be on Doncic and Redick, there's another player who could help define Ayton's tenure and thus secure their own future: Rui Hachimura.
Ayton is on pace to be the Lakers' starting center and, whether fair or foul, their lone source of traditional contributions at the position. Much could change between now and the end of free agency, but a thin depth chart at the 5-spot has put immeasurable pressure on his shoulders.
Thankfully, the flashes of brilliance are impossible to ignore—even if the bouts of inconsistency have overshadowed what Ayton's capable of.
Rewind the time to 2021, distant as it may seem, and the Phoenix Suns unlocked the perfect formula. They reached the NBA Finals with Ayton at center by building around Devin Booker and Chris Paul, of course, but they also complemented the big man with modern 4s who could optimize his value.
Hachimura is by no means a carbon copy of the players Ayton was teammates with in Phoenix, but he has every tool to replicate the formula and take a step forward as a modern 4.
Rui Hachimura can earn new deal by thriving alongside Deandre Ayton
When the Suns reached the 2021 NBA Finals, Ayton played 90 percent of his minutes at center. The two players who most commonly featured alongside him at power forward were Jae Crowder and Cameron Johnson.
Hachimura is, in many respects, a hybrid of the play styles that made and make Crowder and Johnson who they are—and could thus bridge the gap as the perfect Ayton complement.
Hachimura isn't quite as well-rounded as Crowder, but he has a similarly powerful frame that he can use to great effect on both ends of the floor. He also isn't as productive of a shooter as Johnson, but his efficiency is certifiably elite—and an increase in volume is already underway.
In the event that Hachimura continues his ascension, the Lakers could have a modern interior duo of the future they can confidently invest in to complement Doncic.
It's worth noting that Hachimura is coming off of what may have been the best season of his NBA career thus far. He posted averages of 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 offensive boards, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made while shooting at a clip of .509/.413/.770.
Beyond the numbers, Hachimura responded wonderfully to Redick's offseason challenges by corner crashing, shooting with more confidence, and setting the tone with his energy.
Hachimura also overcame a rough start to the 2025 NBA Playoffs by posting 23 points during each of the Lakers' final two games. If that's a sign of things to come, and he's finally ready to turn the postseason corner, then re-signing the 27-year-old will be even easier to justify.
In a contract year with a new-look rotation, however, the pressure is squarely on Hachimura to show the Lakers that his prime will be worth investing in.