Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura is a popular figure on the team. Coaches have lauded his commitment to implementing requested changes, and fans appreciate his efficient shooting and defensive effort.
However, with unrestricted free agency approaching and his role somewhat uncertain, a difficult question arises. Should Hachimura be re-signed at his current salary of $18,259,259?
NBA Salary Cap Considerations
Discussions about a player’s salary are relative to the NBA’s salary cap. The question is not about a player’s general worth, but rather how their impact measures against their potential cap hit.
Conversations about Hachimura’s average annual salary are based on how his ability to influence winning compares to the restrictions re-signing him would place on other potential moves. Los Angeles is in an advantageous position, as it is on pace to have significant cap space.
With this space, the Lakers could sign multiple impact players in free agency, take back large salaries via trades, or find a common ground between those two approaches.
Hachimura’s Recent Performance and Role
Los Angeles also has the benefit of having Hachimura’s Bird rights, but recent performances make it fair to question if re-signing him at a rate of nearly $20 million per season makes sense.
After spending the 2024-25 season and a large share of the 2025-26 campaign as a starter, Hachimura has come off of the bench in 18 of his past 22 appearances. During that time, he’s averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in 25.0 minutes per game.
Hachimura has failed to score in double figures in 10 of those 22 outings, including five of his past seven games played.
Scoring is not the only quality Hachimura offers, but his lack of volume at least causes one to question a potential $20 million figure. Los Angeles’ second unit needs offense and he’s been positioned to take on a featured role in providing it.
If Hachimura can’t at least shoot with efficient volume, then it will be difficult to justify paying big money to a player whose all-around quality is his biggest strength, yet is struggling in a key area.
LeBron James’ Future Impact
The true question facing Hachimura and the Lakers is how LeBron James will handle the next stage of his career. If he re-signs, then he’ll likely continue to start.
In that scenario, Hachimura and Los Angeles will be at something of an impasse. If James doesn’t return to the Lakers in 2026-27 and Rob Pelinka instead signs a true wing stopper, however, then Hachimura could be more easily re-signed as an ideal player to start alongside a true on-ball specialist.
The current Lakers roster struggles to find his fit in that regard, as the Luka Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves trio is woeful on defense. What Hachimura could offer alongside a potentially elite defender along the wings, however, is switchable