Report: Wizards agree to send Rui Hachimura to Lakers
Jan 23, 2023, 10:39 AM | Updated: Jan 24, 2023, 8:41 am
With just over two weeks until the NBA trade deadline, the first shoe has dropped.
According to reports from The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Washington Wizards are sending forward Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Wizards are expected to receive three second-round picks and guard Kendrick Nunn.
Wojnarowski said the Lakers are expected to sign Hachimura to an extension this summer.
Finalized deal: Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn, 2023 second via Chicago, 2029 LA second and and less favorable of 2028 Washington/LA seconds, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2023
Neither team has yet confirmed the trade.
The 24-year-old former first-round pick has averaged 13 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists off the bench for the Wizards. Washington selected Hachimura ninth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Wojnarowski went on to report that the Washington Wizards and Rui Hachimura could not come to an agreement on a rookie contract extension.
Hachimura and the Wizards were unable to agree on a rookie extension prior to the season and trade became more likely as Kyle Kuzma solidified himself as a priority to sign to a long-term deal in the Wizards front court.
Both the Lakers and Wizards sit just outside the top 10 in their conference’s respective standings. The NBA trade deadline is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9.
