Rui Hachimura is expected to be a key part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ frontcourt during the 2023-24 season, despite the recent signing of Christian Wood.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Hachimura is likely to start alongside superstars Anthony Davis and LeBron James, while Wood will primarily come off the bench and play around 20 minutes per game.
Wood, who agreed to a two-year, $5.7 million contract with the Lakers on Tuesday, will be a valuable asset to the team’s frontcourt depth.
The deal also includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.
Hachimura, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, joined the Lakers last season after spending parts of four campaigns in Washington.
During his time with the Lakers, Hachimura appeared in 33 regular-season games, starting nine of them.
He averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from beyond the arc.
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Hachimura’s performance during the Lakers’ playoff run was even more impressive, as he proved to be a valuable secondary scorer, scoring 12.2 points per game in 16 postseason games, while grabbing 3.6 rebounds per game and making 1.2 three-pointers per contest.
Wood, who spent the previous two seasons with the Houston Rockets before joining the Dallas Mavericks last season, is expected to provide additional scoring punch off the bench for the Lakers.
With averages of 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game last season, Wood is a proven contributor.
With the addition of Hachimura and Wood, the Lakers’ frontcourt depth is significantly improved, joining the likes of Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, and Taurean Prince.
This should help to alleviate the pressure on Davis, who has struggled with injuries in recent years.
Overall, the Lakers have a strong roster and are considered one of the top contenders to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals next season, with Hachimura and Wood expected to play key roles in the team’s success.
