Lakers trade rumors: Breaking down 3 blockbuster deals with Rui Hachimura's $17,000,000 contract as the centerpiece

Jarred Vanderbilt's glorious return and back-to-back wins over the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors could have the LA Lakers in a pickle over Rui Hachimura. The Lakers need to plug multiple roster holes, and Hachimura could be vital in various blockbuster trades as a centerpiece.

However, the Lakers have shown reluctance to move him in potential deals. It's understandable why. Thursday's report from the LA Times' Dan Woike gave some more insight into it.

"I spoke to a Lakers source about this where I was talking about a trade that involves Rui Hachimura going out in the trade and they're like, 'I don't know, Rui's pretty good,'" Woike said on Lakers insider Jovan Buha's podcast, "Buha's Block."

In a strong market for wings with a 6-foot-8 frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan like him, averaging 12.2 points and 5.3 rebounds, knocking down 3s at a 41.0% clip, LA has a compelling case to retain Hachimura.

He has also proven himself in the playoffs in a Lakers jersey, and not many players have done it during the LeBron James-Anthony Davis era. Across three playoff runs, including one with Washington in 2021, Hachimura boasts impressive averages of 11.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg, shooting 54.2%, including 48.5% from 3.

During the Lakers' run to the conference finals in 2023, Hachimura averaged 12.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg, shooting 55.7%, including 48.7% from 3 in 16 games. He primarily came off the bench and provided solid offensive bursts for the team.

However, Hachimura's defensive limitations loom large despite his past success and sustained offensive impact. He isn't the most disruptive or laterally quick player to guard smaller wings and gives up size when guarding players with a bigger frame. When his shot doesn't fall, the Japanese forward struggles to compensate for it on the other end, sometimes making him a liability on the floor.

Albeit a small sample size of 12 minutes in Saturday's 118-108 win against Golden State, Vanderbilt's floor-raising play in Hachimura's absence seems to have given the Lakers some answers on their strategy ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

More particularly, around Hachimura's future with the franchise, amid growing pressure from Anthony Davis and LeBron James to make win-now moves. After acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith, who boasts the highest +/- on the team since his debut (+5.1) while knocking down 3s at a team-high 41.7% clip and being a plus defender coupled with Vanderbilt's return, Hachimura is expendable.

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Lakers trade rumors: Blockbuster Rui Hachimura trades worth exploring

If not entirely for his on-court value, the $17,000,000 Rui Hachimura is making this year makes him one of the LA Lakers' best, if not the best, candidates to trade ahead of the deadline. While LA's main obstacle has been the inclusion of first-round picks in some cap-friendly deals like the one for Walker Kessler, others have seemingly been complex because of their lack of salary-matching contracts.

The Lakers parting ways with D'Angelo Russell's $18,692,307 in the Dorian Finney-Smith trade was responsible for it. Meanwhile, Hachimura has reportedly been unavailable in trade talks.

However, as reported by ESPN insider Shams Charania on Saturday, if the Lakers are doing everything they can to fulfill Anthony Davis and LeBron James' wishes, there's reason to believe LA might change its stance on the 26-year-old because of his salary.

It opens up multiple avenues for the team to explore by either using Hachimura's contract to address their need for a two-way guard or adding another center. Here are some blockbuster trades the Lakers can complete with the 6-foot-7 forward:

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#1. Bruce Brown

NBA: Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat - Source: Imagn

Bruce Brown has one of the best profiles for the kind of two-way guard presence the Lakers need on their roster. He would be a seamless fit because of his playmaking, ball-handling, and defensive versatility.

The Lakers would see their offense drop slightly as Brown's a subpar jump shooter (33.6% from 3 in his career and 32.6% this season). But his defensive ceiling is higher than Hachimura's offensive ceiling.

Brown can guard multiple positions and is a viable alternative for Max Christie. The Lakers currently have to live with the growing pains of Christie's inexperience as they don't have an experienced or apt replacement for him.

The Lakers have been linked to Brown for four consecutive windows, starting from the 2023 offseason when he joined the Pacers on a two-year $46 million deal after playing a pivotal role for the Nuggets in their championship success. Brown got dealt to the Raptors at the last trade deadline in the blockbuster deal that helped Indiana acquire Pascal Siakam.

Brown's hefty contract with an annual average salary has been a stumbling block for the Lakers. However, including Hachimura's $17 million salary and two minimum contracts can help them acquire Brown.

It may not require more than two seconds to get the trade done, helping LA preserve first-round picks for another deal. Here's the proposed trade:

Bruce Brown to Lakers ft. Rui Hachimura

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#2. Collin Sexton in a packaged deal for Walker Kessler

NBA: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings - Source: Imagn

Walker Kessler is one of the prime targets for the LA Lakers. The 22-year-old fits the bill as a long-term prospect because of his age and can boost the Lakers as a win-now piece. The Lakers reportedly don't mind spending first-round draft capital for such a target. However, the Jazz's asking price has been steep, and the two teams haven't agreed on a deal.

If Utah's asking price remains high, the Lakers can also look to make another inclusion in this package by asking for Collin Sexton. The Jazz duo earn a combined $21.2 million, and the Lakers can match that salary. Sexton addresses a significant need for another playmaker and ball-handler off the bench.

He's averaging 18.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, shooting 47.4%, including 40.1% from 3. Sexton's also a serviceable defender who can be effective in team schemes.

Here's what it might take for the Lakers to complete this transaction:

Proposed trade for Walker Kessler/Collin Sexton ft. Rui Hachimura

The Jazz will have to free up roster spots. Additionally, the Lakers might have to unprotect the 2027 first-round pick they traded to Utah in 2023.

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#3. Myles Turner

NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers - Source: Imagn

Myles Turner is arguably the best prospect the Lakers can pursue if the Pacers make him available. With Turner in the final year of his deal, his asking price from a draft capital standpoint may not be as high as Walker Kessler's.

Turner is also a slightly better fit than the Utah Jazz big man because of his ability to space the floor and score at a high clip. He's averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting 39.3% from 3.

Turner is making $19.9 million this year. Here's how the Lakers' can acquire him in a straight swap with Hachimura and some minimum-level contracts with top-five protection on their 2029 first-round pick since Turner has an expiring contract:

Proposed trade for Myles Turner ft. Rui Hachimura

The Lakers and Pacers can also engage a third team if Indiana has no interest in Hachimura's services. Wood and Hood-Schifino are on expiring deals, so Indiana may not mind retaining the two until the season's end.

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