The Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs have shown interest in Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura as he approaches unrestricted free agency, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Both teams are evaluating frontcourt upgrades, with San Antonio also facing a decision on veteran forward Harrison Barnes’ future.
“Brooklyn keeps coming up as a likely suitor, too, for the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura,” Stein and Fischer reported. “The Nets and Spurs are two teams we’ve heard have interest in adding Hachimura’s services, while the Spurs are also faced with resolving Harrison Barnes’ future as the veteran forward heads to unrestricted free agency.”
Hachimura, 28, is set to hit the open market after completing a three-year, $51 million contract with the Lakers. He played a key role for a Los Angeles team that finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 53-29 record and reached the Western Conference semifinals before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Japanese forward averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 68 games while shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from three-point range. His 61.1% effective field goal percentage ranked among the strongest marks on the Lakers roster, reflecting his efficiency as a floor-spacing forward.
The Lakers will now have to decide whether retaining Hachimura remains a priority or whether they use his expiring contract situation to reshape the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
