The Los Angeles Lakers’ long-term cap strategy has claimed another short-term casualty.
According to Buha’s Block host Jovan Buha, forward Rui Hachimura — last season’s starter and one of the team’s steadiest contributors — is not expected to receive an extension in the next six weeks.
“With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers,” Buha said on his Aug. 14 livestream. “It’s possible something happens, but most of what’s out there is them wanting to keep the books clean… and see whether he starts or comes off the bench this year.”
Hachimura, 27, averaged 13.1 points on efficient 51/41/77 shooting splits last season, along with 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Without an extension, he joins LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes on the Lakers’ list of pending free agents.
ESPN is projecting to have at least 10 teams, including the Lakers, with significant cap space next summer.
Short Deals, Big Picture
Outside of Luka Dončić’s three-year, $165 million extension, the Lakers have avoided long-term commitments. Newcomers Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart each received two-year deals.
Ayton and Smart have player options for 2026–27, keeping the Lakers’ books open for 2026 and beyond.
That flexibility is designed to help build around Dončić while preparing for Austin Reaves’ looming contract negotiations next summer.
“We’ve been very intentional with keeping our optionality,” team president Rob Pelinka said. “In the new system, having flexibility versus being stuck is really promising for how we’re going to build this team.”
If the Lakers stumble this season, the result could be a dramatic roster overhaul — and Hachimura might be among the biggest names to move.
Interestingly, James and Reaves, who declined the Lakers’ four-year, $89.2 million extension offer this offseason, could headline the free agency class next summer.
Jokic or Giannis Trade a Pipedream
Pundits have pointed to the Lakers cleaning their books for a superstar who can become Dončić’s new running mate in the post-LeBron era.
The top candidates are two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee remains in doubt, ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported. Meanwhile, Jokic, Doncic’s close friend, also raised a few eyebrows over his decision to postpone extension talks with the Denver Nuggets until after next season.
Lakers fans have dreams of pairing one of them with Doncic. But trading for either of the superstars, should they become available, will be a challenging pursuit for the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
“Do I think either is realistic as a trade target? No, not really. The market would need to be way suppressed by a player saying they would simply walk to the Lakers in free agency, so 28 other teams shouldn’t even consider bidding, and still the Lakers’ offer would be thin,” Woike wrote on his Aug. 13 mailbag.
As it currently stands, the Lakers only have one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and their 2032 second-round pick available to trade and over $100 million expiring salaries, if you include LeBron, who opted into his $52.6 million player option.
Woike points out 2027 as the biggest summer for the Lakers.
“Now, 2027 in free agency, should either Giannis or Jokić make it there, could be interesting, especially if Dončić has the kind of season the Lakers expect out of him,” Woike wrote.
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