Rui Hachimura’s return to the Los Angeles Lakers may not be off the table just yet.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Hachimura remaining unsigned has led some league sources to wonder whether the Lakers are preparing another move to create the flexibility needed to bring him back.
“Hachimura remaining unsigned caused several league sources to wonder whether the Lakers are planning some sort of trade or using the stretch provision on perhaps Jarred Vanderbilt or Deandre Ayton to be able to offer Hachimura more,” McMenamin reported.
That detail makes the situation worth watching closely.
As currently constructed, the Lakers do not have meaningful cap space and are limited in what they can offer. If Los Angeles wants to make a serious push to re-sign Hachimura, the front office may need to clear salary through a trade or explore other financial mechanisms to create room.
For the Lakers, the basketball argument for bringing Rui back is easy to understand.
He gives Los Angeles size on the wing, scoring versatility, physicality, and the ability to play alongside the team’s core without needing the offense built around him. Around Luka Dončić, that kind of forward matters. Luka needs players who can space the floor, attack closeouts, finish through contact, and punish defenses when they overcommit.
Rui checks those boxes.
He already knows the Lakers’ system. He has playoff experience. He has shown he can deliver in high-pressure moments. And in an offseason where Los Angeles is trying to rebuild a competitive rotation quickly, keeping a familiar wing who fits the roster could be smarter than chasing a completely new solution.
The challenge is money.
If the Lakers cannot create enough flexibility, a reunion may become difficult. But the fact that Hachimura remains unsigned keeps the door open, at least for now.
Los Angeles needs size, depth, and reliable two-way role players around its stars. Rui may not solve every problem, but he fills a real hole in the rotation.
If the Lakers can find a path to bring him back, they should take it.
Rui Hachimura still belongs in purple and gold.
