NBA insider Evan Sidery reported on Sunday, May 17, that Rui Hachimura is expected to earn over $20 million annually once he enters free agency this summer. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent as his three-year, $51 million contract expires, putting him among the notable frontcourt names on the market.
Sidery also noted that Los Angeles is interested in retaining Hachimura, but multiple teams are expected to show strong interest once negotiations begin. The financial projection reflects his steady development into a reliable scoring option within a contender’s rotation.
Since joining the Lakers, Hachimura has expanded his offensive profile, particularly as a perimeter threat. As noted by Sidery, he has developed into a consistent three-point shooter, averaging 41.5% from beyond the arc on 3.6 attempts. In the 2025-26 regular season, he posted 44.3% from three on 3.9 attempts per game, along with 11.5 points on 51.4% shooting across 68 appearances.
His role has remained consistent within a high-usage offensive environment led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Operating as a floor-spacer at power forward, Hachimura has benefited from open looks created by primary ball handlers while also contributing secondary scoring efficiency inside the arc at 57.0% on two-point attempts.
In the postseason, his shooting efficiency has taken another step forward. Through 10 playoff games, he averaged 17.5 points while shooting 56.9% from three-point range on 5.8 attempts per game. That production has increased his value as a spacing forward capable of maintaining offensive balance against high-level playoff defenses.
The Lakers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 53-29 record, securing the Pacific Division and a top-four seed in the Western Conference. Their playoff run included a first-round series win over the Houston Rockets before being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 4-0 Western Conference Semifinals sweep.
With the roster built around Doncic, Reaves, and veteran leadership from LeBron James, Hachimura’s spacing role became a key structural component. His ability to convert catch-and-shoot opportunities has made him a consistent rotation piece in both regular-season and playoff settings.
