Lakers in Advanced Talks to Acquire Rui Hachimura from Wizards

The Wizards are in advanced talks to acquire forward Rui Hachimura from the Wizards in exchange for guard Kendrick Nunn and multiple second-round picks, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Both the Mavericks and Kings are also reportedly in Hachimura, with the Wizards said to be active in talks. But it appears he instead will be headed to LA.

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, talks involving the Lakers and Wizards are in the final stages.

While fellow Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma had been drawing most of the trade interest Hachimura became the forward that the Wizards are more willing to move. That would help free things up financially after the season to re-sign Kuzma, per Charania and Josh Robbins.

As it stands, the Wizards do indeed have a bit of a logjam at forward, with Kuzma, Hachimura, the injured Kristaps Porzingis, and Deni Avdija at the position. It seems the Wizards’ priority is keeping Kuzma and Porzingis.

“I just want to be somewhere that wants me as a basketball player,” Hachimura said, via Ava Wallace of the Washington Post. “And I want to be somewhere that loves my — likes my game, you know? … I just want to be somewhere that trusts, believes in me. Just I can be myself — that’s my goal.”

Hachimura and the Wizards were unable to agree on a rookie extension prior to the season and trade became more likely as Kyle Kuzma solidified himself as a priority to sign to a long-term deal in the Wizards front court.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2023

Hachimura, 24, is 6-foot-8 and was selected by the Wizards out of Gonzaga with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He is averaging 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30 games this season, shooting 49 percent from the field.

The best season of his four-year career came in 2020-21, his second in the league, when he averaged 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 57 games.