CNN
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The Los Angeles Lakers have added Rui Hachimura to their roster after finishing a commerce for him from the Washington Wizards in change for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
The facility ahead’s transfer comes off the again of a irritating 12 months in Washington, which has seen him come off the bench in each sport this season. Having been unable to signal a rookie-deal contract extension, Hachimura would have grow to be a restricted free agent on the finish of this NBA season.
“I simply wish to be someplace that wishes me as a basketball participant,” the 2019 ninth general draft select of Gonzaga advised reporters on Saturday. “And I wish to be someplace that likes my sport … I simply wish to be someplace that believes in me and I could be myself. That’s my objective.”
The Lakers have been wanting so as to add one other large man into their squad to assist out Anthony Davis and LeBron James and, whereas he might not begin initially, Hachimura is anticipated to get extra sport time and begin extra video games than he did for the Wizards.
Regardless of solely coming off the bench, Hachimura has been in good type this 12 months, averaging 13.0 factors and 4.3 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per sport. He has been taking pictures 48.8 p.c from the sector and 33.7 p.c from three.
“Including each measurement and depth to the wing place has been a objective, and the prospect to perform that by buying a participant with Rui’s two-way abilities and upside was a possibility that doesn’t current itself usually,” Lakers basic supervisor and vice chairman of basketball operations Rob Pelinka mentioned in a press release.
Hachimura might nonetheless be a restricted free agent after the season concludes, however it’s anticipated that the Lakers will tie him down with an extension this summer season.
Nunn was in his second season with the Lakers and his fourth within the NBA, however the taking pictures guard missed the whole thing of final 12 months with a knee damage and has solely performed a reserve position this season, averaging 6.7 factors in 39 video games.