The two teams that want to "steal" Hachimura

The future of Rui Hachimura will be one of the matters to follow during the NBA free agency. The Japanese small forward finishes his contract with Los Angeles Lakers and faces the market as an unrestricted free agent, a situation that will allow him to listen to offers from any franchise before deciding where he will continue his career.

His continuity in Los Angeles is not ruled out, although it will depend on the Lakers' financial planning and the salary cap they work with during this summer. Meanwhile, interested teams have already begun to emerge if he eventually changes his destination.

According to Marc Stein, both the Brooklyn Nets and the San Antonio Spurs are closely monitoring Hachimura's situation and could become two of the main candidates to try to acquire him during free agency.

The scenario of staying in Los Angeles remains a possibility.

However, the decision will not depend solely on the player's desire.

The Californian franchise will need to assess how their salary cap is structured and if they have the necessary margin to face a renewal.

The Lakers' financial situation will be crucial to determine if they can retain Hachimura or if, on the contrary, the small forward ends up seeking a new project with another NBA team.

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Brooklyn emerges among the candidates

If he eventually leaves Los Angeles, Brooklyn appears as one of the destinations with more chances to enter the bidding.

The Nets continue to operate intensively in the market and keep adding names to their list of potential reinforcements.

The interest in Hachimura comes after the franchise reached an agreement to acquire Julius Randle, an operation that shows the team's ongoing quest for experienced players to strengthen their roster.

The Japanese player would fit into the profile that Brooklyn is analyzing for the upcoming season.

San Antonio also monitors the situation

The Spurs are another team keeping an eye on the player's market.

The Texan franchise has the mid-level exception for teams not paying the luxury tax, valued at 15 million dollars, a tool that could facilitate an offer for Hachimura.

Furthermore, San Antonio may need players capable of playing power forward, a circumstance that makes the Japanese international an interesting option in their planning for the upcoming season.

A Season with Impact at the Lakers

During the 2025-26 season, Hachimura once again had an important role within the rotation of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The small forward played a total of 68 games, starting in 41 of them.

His presence on the court averaged 28.3 minutes per game, numbers that reflect the confidence he had within the team for much of the season.

Offensively, he scored 11.5 points per game, accompanied by good shooting percentages, especially from the three-point line.

His Stats for the 2025-26 Season

The Japanese player's statistics show an efficient attacker with the ability to contribute in different aspects of the game.

A Market That Will Define His Future

The free agency will be decisive in determining Rui Hachimura's next destination.

The Lakers still have the possibility to renew the player, although their decision will be influenced by the franchise's salary cap situation and how they choose to utilize their resources during the summer.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are already positioned as two of the most attentive teams to any potential moves.

With several scenarios open and the market still in its early stages, the future of the Japanese small forward remains undefined. What appears clear is that Hachimura will have suitors if he ultimately decides to embark on a new chapter away from Los Angeles, after completing a season where he once again demonstrated his ability to provide quality minutes and maintain notable efficiency on the offensive end.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los dos equipos que quieren "robar" a Hachimura