Five months after the Los Angeles Lakers’ five-game first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the disappointment still weighs on Rui Hachimura. However, entering Year 7, the floor-spacing forward is optimistic about his new-look squad’s chances of achieving redemption.
After LA unexpectedly acquired Luka Dončić at February’s trade deadline to form a superstar duo alongside LeBron James, expectations were sky-high entering the postseason. Despite finishing as the Western Conference’s third seed (50-32), its undersized, star-studded roster was thoroughly outmatched in Round 1, struggling to combat Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle-led frontcourt.
The Lakers have since addressed their starting center void, signing DeAndre Ayton over the summer. They also added two-way veteran guard Marcus Smart and versatile forward Jake LaRavia in free agency, fortifying their depth despite losing 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets.
What Does Rui Hachimura Think of the Lakers’ Revamped Roster?
Speaking at Wednesday’s practice, Hachimura briefly acknowledged that he is still processing LA’s latest playoff slip-up before shifting the focus to his team’s roster improvements.
“It’s still there. That was our last game we played, so we think about it sometimes,” Hachimura said. “It is what it is. We got a new team. We have to have a different mindset coming out of the new season.
“There are a lot of changes they made in the league, too, so we gotta kind of see who’s doing what. But yeah, I think we got better, too. So, we just gotta build our chemistry, and we’re going from there.”
The Lakers’ offseason additions have sparked questions about their new starting lineup, with JJ Redick remaining non-committal about his preferences. The second-year coach noted Thursday that his squad has “seven or eight starter-level players,” potentially leading Hachimura to be relegated to a bench role.
While the 6-foot-8 Japanese pro keeps an open mind, he seemingly hinted at his desire to remain a starter during Monday’s Media Day. That first unit presumably includes Dončić, James, Ayton and shooting guard Austin Reaves.
“I think it’s, for me, just whatever the team needs me to do,” Hachimura explained. “But we’ve been building the chemistry that I’ve been in the starting five for two, three years. So, whatever they decide I have to do, it’s just a matter of the chemistry, how we can build and be on the court together, and how we can [make] an impact.”
Hachimura has proven to be a reliable perimeter threat for the Lakers, shooting 41.8 percent from 3 over his last two seasons. Still, he may need to improve his defense and rebounding to maximize his time on the floor, given LA’s offense-heavy roster.