Just about everyone knows that the Los Angeles Lakers want to retain star guard Austin Reaves, who is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent later this month. It is also widely assumed they will also want to keep LeBron James, who will hit the open market at the end of June.
But the Lakers also have a few other key players who can or will become free agents this summer. Among them are forward Rui Hachimura and backup center Jaxson Hayes, and according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, it is believed the team will prioritize re-signing both men.
“The belief is that Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes are players the Lakers would prioritize bringing back as they try to best fit a roster around [Luka] Dončić,” Woike wrote.
Hachimura is sometimes rendered nearly invisible in the Lakers’ offense because he has to defer to Doncic, James and Reaves. But with Doncic out for the playoffs and Reaves unable to play in the first four games of the postseason, he stepped up. The Japan native averaged 17.5 points a game and shot 54.9% from the field and 56.9% from 3-point range, and that accuracy made him the NBA’s current leader in career playoff 3-point shooting percentage.
During the regular season, Hachimura was at 11.5 points a game and made 44.3% of his 3-point tries.
Hayes had a solid season backing up starter Deandre Ayton, and at times, he finished games. He registered 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game during the regular season, and he put up 5.7 points, 3.2 boards and 0.8 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game during the postseason.
Ayton, who played well at times but was often seen as a disappointment, can decline his player option for $8.1 million and become a free agent this offseason.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: Lakers are prioritizing re-signing two non-stars
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
