Rui Hachimura has carved out a role as one of the more productive players on the Los Angeles Lakers. When provided with consistent playing time, he's stepped up and established himself as a high-level role player with impressive scoring ability.
Unfortunately, Hachimura is also playing on one of the most tradable contracts the Lakers have—and has thus been included in incessant trade speculation.
LeBron James will make just over $48.7 million in 2024-25, while Anthony Davis is owed upwards of $43.2 million. Neither player will be traded at any point in the near future, making the next largest salary that could be moved the expiring $18,692,307 owed to D'Angelo Russell.
That could be the salary that Los Angeles ultimately prioritizes trading, but if the goal is to acquire a star-caliber player, then Hachimura and his $17 million cap hit would likely be included.
Under this set of circumstances, the Lakers would unfortunately part with a player who has shined when given the opportunity. In 2023-24, he averaged 17.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on .558/.425/.741 shooting when he played upwards of 30 minutes.
With this in mind, the question is simple: Who might the Lakers realistically include Hachimura in a trade for before the 2025 NBA trade deadline?
One of the most common names linked to the Lakers in trade rumors is Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. The 30-year-old is operating along a different timeline than the rebuilding organization, which has thus resulted in the potential for an amicable split.
It's fair to question if Grant would truly be an upgrade over the younger and more cost-efficient Hachimura, but it's still a possible outcome.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported in June that the Lakers are among the teams interested in trading for Grant. The asking price could be steep, including two future first-round draft picks, per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.
In the event that the Lakers would prefer to circumvent the asking price and retain at least one of those two picks, Hachimura would likely need to be included.
It's easy to see why Los Angeles would be interested in moving Hachimura for Grant. This past season, the Trail Blazers forward averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 three-point field goals made on .451/.402/.817 shooting. He also maintains a reputation as a high-caliber defender.
Injury concerns and a $29,793,104 salary for the 2024-25 season create a sense of trepidation, but the Lakers could realistically trade Hachimura for Grant before the deadline.
Losing Hachimura would sting, but Brandon Ingram is one of the players whom the Lakers would likely be happy to pay a hefty price for. Los Angeles previously selected Ingram at No. 2 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft before including him in the trade for Anthony Davis in 2019.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that New Orleans is fielding trade offers for Ingram due to its reluctance to meet his asking price for an extension, thus opening the door for the Lakers.
Ingram has earned All-Star and All-Rookie honors during his NBA career, as well as the 2020 Most Improved Player award. He's a facilitating wing with the size and length at 6'8" with a 7'3" wingspan to play a disruptive role on defense.
Ingram hasn't necessarily established himself as elite in any one area, but he contributes in every phase of the game.
Since being traded by the Lakers in 2019, Ingram has recorded averages of 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.8 three-point field goals made. He's shot efficiently at a clip of .472/.372/.847, and is able to draw contact and get to the line.
If the Lakers are looking for a wing who can help run the offense once LeBron James retires, then trading for and then extending or re-signing Ingram would be a wise decision.
Easily the most polarizing trade rumor to emerge over the past year was the revelation that the Lakers and Zach LaVine shared a mutual interest. Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reported as much in November, albeit before LaVine's season was cut short by injuries.
If interest persists and the Lakers actually go through with a trade for LaVine, then Hachimura is all but guaranteed to be included based on the necessary outgoing salaries alone.
LaVine is owed $43,031,940 for the 2024-25 season. With this established, it would likely require a combination of Hachimura, Russell, and either Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent just to start the process of matching salaries.
Introducing a third team into the mix could soften the blow a bit, but even still, Hachimura is a talent that Chicago would likely value if LaVine is headed elsewhere.
LaVine, a two-time All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist, would bring an intriguing combination of skill and athleticism to Los Angeles. Removing 2023-24, when he missed 57 games due to injury, LaVine has averaged 25.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on .479/.390/.939 shooting over his past four healthy seasons.
There are obvious concerns about how much the Lakers can trust LaVine to remain healthy, but if the rumors prove true, then a trade including Hachimura is a real possibility.