Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has spent the past two seasons at the heart of an endless stream of trade rumors. Though most agree that Hachimura provides positive value to the Lakers, his team-friendly contract has been dangled as a speculatively essential piece to virtually all potential moves.
After enduring two grueling trade deadlines, Hachimura finally has the stability most thought he'd never receive, as the Lakers ultimately opted not to move him.
Hachimura, 28, is in the final season of the three-year, $51 million contract he signed with the Lakers in 2023. With an expiring $18,259,259 in 2025-26, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Los Angeles would move his deal for long-term value. Against all odds, however, a trade never manifested.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Hachimura addressed the constant trade rumors that circulate the Lakers and explained that the deadline passing has created a sense of certainty and stability in the locker room.
"With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors," Hachimura told ESPN. "But a lot of times, those rumors are bulls---...We have the time now where it's like, 'OK, this is our group now.' Because we know that now. So we're ready for what's next."
Free agency still looms large, but Hachimura has finally been given the opportunity to play without fear of his contract being utilized as a trade piece for a roster upgrade.
Rui Hachimura finally knows where he'll finish the 2025-26 season
Hachimura has been an invaluable contributor to the Lakers during his four seasons with the team. He's been somewhat miscast as the team's primary wing defender, but he's done what the coaching staff has asked of him and developed into a quality two-way player.
In 2025-26, Hachimura is averaging 12.1 points per game on .511/.447/.735 shooting and ranks among the better defensive wings in the NBA.
According to Basketball Index, Hachimura currently places in the 89th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, the 84th percentile in screener mobile defense, and the 74th percentile in perimeter isolation defense. That reflects his quality away from the ball, defending the pick and roll, and even picking up opponents in one-on-one situations,
It's also made his pending period of unrestricted free agency a compelling situation to monitor, but for the time being, stability has been achieved.
Hachimura and the Lakers can now move forward knowing exactly who will still be on the roster come the playoffs. There's no need to pay mind to the rumor mill, as any concerns over one's future can be saved for the offseason.
It's a luxury that Hachimura has rarely been afforded during his time in Los Angeles, but with the trade deadline behind him, he can finally move forward with confidence that he's a Laker.