The Los Angeles Lakers still need to replace Rui Hachimura’s lights-out shooting after they let him walk to the crosstown rival Clippers in free agency. In LA’s three playoff series wins since Hachimura arrived, he shot 55.9 percent from 3-point range. The 6’8 forward’s career 51.6 percent from long range in the playoffs is the best in NBA history, and he made 50.7 percent over his 36 playoff games with the Lakers.
Rui’s shooting helped LA win multiple playoff series, and the Lakers desperately need a replacement. The purple and gold added three plus-shooters with their cap space, but each has their faults. Quentin Grimes has struggled both times his team qualified for the playoffs. Sandro Mamukelashvili saw his minutes decline in his first playoff experience against the Cavaliers, and Collin Sexton hasn’t played in an NBA playoff game.
Hachimura shined when the lights were brightest. The pressure is on Grimes to fill this role, but he’s not the answer. The Lakers should be searching for a lights-out shooter who is comfortable spotting up.
Lakers still haven’t replaced Rui Hachimura’s clutch 3-point shooting
Hachimura made 59.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes in the 2026 playoffs. He literally couldn’t miss, and it wasn’t the first time. The 6’8 forward made 48.7 percent during the 2023 run to the conference finals. Hachimura transformed into one of the NBA’s best shooters in Los Angeles, and the Lakers don’t have anyone to replace that.
Rob Pelinka went in a different direction. Hachimura stayed in Los Angeles, but the Lakers weren’t letting the Clippers benefit twice for stealing Hachimura. The Lakers refused to do a sign-and-trade because they didn’t want to help their crosstown rival anymore. It was bad enough the Clippers signed Rui.
Luka Doncic is one of the best offensive creators in the world. He will get the Lakers plenty of open looks, and the role players around him must drill those shots. Derrick Jones Jr., Maxi Kleber, Josh Green, Kyrie Irving, and Jaden Hardy all shot 36.9 percent or better in the playoffs during the Mavericks' 2024 run to the NBA Finals. Having a lights-out shooter is a massive advantage, and the Lakers should be looking for one.
Lakers need someone eager to fire away that can sink shots like Hachimura
The biggest change from the regular season to the playoffs was Hachimura’s eagerness to fire away. He took just 3.9 3-point attempts per game last season, but it jumped to 5.8 each night in the playoffs. Volume matters, especially when Luka and AR are drawing the defense and leaving shooters wide open.
The Lakers should be looking for an elite shooter before the trade deadline. They have just three second-round draft picks and one first-round pick swap to trade, but Rob Pelinka acquired Luke Kennard for just one second-rounder and Gabe Vincent at the 2026 deadline. Kennard isn’t a volume shooter, which was Pelinka’s mistake. Hopefully, he corrects it this year.
The Los Angeles Lakers are just starting a complete rebuild around Luka Doncic. This is year one. They found talented role players and remade the team’s identity. There are still a few pieces that don’t fit and some holes to plug. That is phase two of the retool.
The Lakers need to replace Rui Hachimura’s shooting. His success and volume from long range helped Los Angeles win three playoff series in the last four years. Luka will create open looks, and the purple and gold have to find someone who will consistently knock them down in the playoffs. They don’t have this option yet, but it should be near the top of the wish list before February’s trade deadline.
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