Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has been a revelation during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. As has been the case throughout his Lakers tenure, Hachimura has raised his game during the postseason and provided a rare sense of stability beyond the team's star conglomerate.
Unfortunately, with unrestricted free agency looming, a franchise-altering question looms large: What exactly is the ideal salary to offer to Hachimura in respect to preserving space for other priorities?
Hachimura has been tremendous in his role for the Lakers. He's taken well to head coach JJ Redick, excelling in the areas that he's been asked to improve and adapting to whatever the situation calls for—including cycling between the starting lineup and the second unit.
That's taken a turn for the borderline spectacular during the playoffs, as Hachimura has played an essential role in helping Los Angeles win without Luka Doncic and, at times, Austin Reaves.
Hachimura is currently averaging 16.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steal, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on .548/.571/.500 shooting during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He scored 21 points to help the Lakers close the Houston Rockets out in Round 1 and has managed 18 and 16 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For as rewarding as Hachimura's success has been, one can't help but wonder: Would re-signing Hachimura prevent the Lakers from upgrading a roster that's not quite ready to contend?
Rui Hachimura gives Lakers more free agency questions than answers
Hachimura is currently making $18,259,259 in the final season of a three-year, $51 million contract. It's a perfectly reasonable figure for a player who has offered quality defense, efficient offense, and a valuable degree of positional versatility.
Unfortunately, Hachimura's future is complicated by factors beyond his own control, as the Lakers are close to effectively hitting the reset button on their roster.
Each of the Lakers' top seven players in minutes per game during the 2026 NBA Playoffs will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. The lone exception to that rule would've been Doncic, who has yet to make his 2026 postseason debut.
With a roster that lacks any true stability beyond Doncic, every penny spent this coming summer will inform the limitations of the restructuring one can easily argue Los Angeles needs.
Lakers need to sign players who fit expensive archetypes this summer
There's a clear case that Hachimura should return to the Lakers as a valuable two-way player who has proven capable of stepping up in the playoffs. Los Angeles still needs to address the instability at center and the need for a point-of-attack wing defender—two potentially pricey endeavors.
As such, Hachimura's strong postseason play may very well force the Lakers to choose between re-signing a trusted veteran and making ideal roster upgrades.
The top free agent center in 2025, Myles Turner, signed for four years and roughly $108.9 million. 3-and-D wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker signed for three years and just under $60.7 million. If those are the type of salaries that the Lakers must compete with, then re-signing Hachimura could prove more challenging than anticipated.
With Austin Reaves already expected to receive a considerable pay raise this coming summer, Hachimura's stellar play during the 2026 postseason may thus ultimately lead to his departure.
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