The 2024-25 season could become one of the most tense in recent Los Angeles Lakers history. LeBron James will turn 40, JJ Redick will face an unprecedented amount of pressure as a first-year head coach with no prior high-level experience, and avenging a first-round exit will be the talk of the town.
Pressure often pushes great teams to even higher heights, but if the Lakers underachieve, a landscape-altering trade will be a genuine possibility.
In the event that the Lakers approach the trade deadline with the need to improve, the unfortunate reality is that a potentially valuable player will need to be moved. Anthony Davis and James are safe from that distinction as the All-NBA franchise players, but few others are likely to be exempt.
That harsh truth poses a simple question: Who might be traded by the Lakers if the team fails to live up to its internal expectations in 2024-25?
Rui Hachimura
It's a safe bet that the Lakers would prefer to avoid this outcome, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be able to. In addition to being one of the best players on the team, Hachimura has perhaps the most attractive multi-year salary that Los Angeles would be willing to part with.
As teams look to extract as much as possible from the Lakers in a potential trade, Hachimura is all but guaranteed to be a part of those discussions.
Hachimura is a 26-year-old forward with positional versatility and an interesting combination of size, strength, and skill. Standing at 6'8" and 230 pounds with a 7'2" wingspan and a jumper that flirts with elite, he's the prototypical 3-4 hybrid for the modern NBA.
This past season, Hachimura averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 three-point field goals made in just 26.4 minutes per game—on 42.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Translating those numbers to 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes puts his value and potential into perspective. He's also playing on a relatively team-friendly three-year, $51 million deal that expires in 2026.
With a salary that can help the Lakers line up the finances of a potential trade for an All-Star and upside that teams are likely to be intrigued by, Hachimura is likely to be moved if the team is struggling.
A case could be made that no one is facing more pressure to take a step forward and prevent that from transpiring.