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San Antonio could use a backup stretch big as it reloads for next season, and a combo stretch big man who can start and possibly play alongside Wembanyama in bigger lineups such as Rui Hachimura. The opportunity to play alongside Wembanyama, the franchise's success, its culture and collective youth make San Antonio a preferred destination, sources said, adding that multiple big men are already trying to get to south Texas.
Several league sources told ESPN they believe Rui Hachimura could be the odd man out and that he might need to explore the market to find a desired deal. However, if the Lakers decide to operate as an over-the-cap team, they would be able to retain all of their own free agents for whom they have Bird rights -- including accommodating Hachimura -- and also have the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, to pursue outside free agents.
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Spurs have the financial flexibility to be active in free agency and could target a stretch forward capable of complementing Wembanyama. "The Spurs have the flexibility to go out and do some free-agency shopping," Marks said during ESPN's NBA Today. "When you look at the playoffs, they need a combo big man who can complement Victor [Wembanyama]. When you look at a stretch 4, a player like Rui Hachimura from the Lakers, you pair him up with a big who can shoot. Regardless, the Spurs are set up really nicely for the future."
Sure, there is LeBron James and Austin Reaves, two of the biggest names available. But there are, too, veterans like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, and swing pieces like Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. That means that the Lakers will have some choices to make. Increasingly, word is that the Lakers like a lot of the players they have on hand, and rather than making sweeping changes to the roster, could instead bring back a lot of last season’s players with just one midrange addition worth in the $20 million AAV range, likely for a big man. Making choices on getting rid of players who helped on the floor and in the locker room–Smart and Hachimura, perhaps–won’t be easy. “They have cap space and that’s a great position to be in,” one Western Conference executive said. “But they really like their group. They’re going to have to make a painful decision or two with that roster.”
Jovan Buha: "I think LeBron is going to have some impact on whether Rui (Hachimura) is back, because if you run it back with Luka (Doncic), Austin (Reaves), and LeBron as your three best players and your three starters, Rui does not fit as the fourth player in that lineup. We saw that last season. That lineup with Rui and (Deandre) Ayton was one of the worst high-minute lineups in the league. So I think Rui could be the odd man out, especially if they keep LeBron.
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Can the Lakers afford to bring back LeBron James on a $50 million salary and still be in a position to bolster their roster. When factoring in a new contract for Austin Reaves, that answer is a resounding no. Would James compromise to return to L.A.? A $30 million salary would allow the Lakers to re-sign Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and use the full $15 million non-tax midlevel exception. The Lakers could also act as a cap space team but without Hachimura and Kennard. They would then have $20 million in room and also the $9.4 million room exception. As for suitors outside of the Lakers, teams such as Cleveland, Denver, Golden State and New York can offer only the $3.9 million veterans minimum.
The win was the 1,229th of James' career and moved him past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most victories by any player in NBA history (combined regular season and playoffs). Not to mention, it came on a night when Luka Doncic topped 15,000 career points and Rui Hachimura reached 5,000. Still, James' celebratory mood didn't last long. Lakers coach JJ Redick had announced all the individual accomplishments in the postgame locker room, eliciting a cascading round of applause by L.A. players and assistant coaches. And then Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' president of basketball operations and general manager, addressed the team. He had the game ball in his hands. Rather than hand it to Hachimura or Doncic or James, Pelinka walked to the front of the room and presented the ball to Redick, who had just presided over his 100th coaching win.
Ramona Shelburne: The explanation I’ve heard is Kleber was in as a screener. Kennard a decoy (third option). AR or Bron was getting the shot. Smart was the passer. Kleber is a good screener and good with execution. Hence, he was in there over Rui. Neither was getting the ball. Kennard in there over Rui because of the gravity he creates.
StatMuse: Rui Hachimura: — Highest 3P% in NBA playoff history — Leading Lakers in threes this playoffs — Led Lakers in threes tonight Wasn't on the floor for the game-tying three.
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Khobi Price: Rui Hachimura on the energy in today's practice, with the Lakers aware of the challenge they have being down 0-3 to the Thunder: "It's tough. They are championship [team] for a reason. We focus on a lot on Shai but I think we talk about more...we should have talked about more other guys. They're killing us. Especially when Shai is off the court, we're really losing those minutes. We talked about that today, how we're gonna guard them as a team. We feel good about it tomorrow."
Hachimura, who made all four of his three-point attempts in the first half, had a chance at a three on the Lakers’ first possession but instead passed to Ayton, who was fouled on the floor. Marcus Smart tried a lob to Ayton, but the center couldn’t corral the pass. The Lakers went back to him on each of the next two offensive possessions and he scored on both. He scored six of his 10 points during a three-and-a-half-minute stretch of the third quarter. “DA is a hell of a player,” said Smart, one of Ayton’s closest teammates. “We all know it. We just want to get him the touches and get him the feel early, just to give them a different look. ... All the guards are doing their thing. So we’re just trying to get the big fella involved.”
Dave McMenamin: The Lakers lose Game 1, 108-90, after being outscored 39-25 in the last quarter and a half. LeBron 27 pts 6 ast; Rui 18 pts; Smart 12 pts on 4-of-15 shooting 7 ast 4 stl; Ayton 10 pts 11 reb; Reaves 8 pts on 3-of-16 4 ast. OKC bench outscored LAL reserves 34-15.
