Trade analysis: Rui Hachimura to the Lakers

HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan explains how the Rui Hachimura trade affects the Lakers and Wizards.

The first major deal ahead of this year’s trade deadline has been made. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers acquired Rui Hachimura from the Wizards for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.

Below is an analysis of the deal and the motivation behind it for both teams.

Rui Hachimura trade grades: Who won the deal between the Lakers and Wizards?

TRADE SZN.

After thrilling victories over the Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers, the Lakers made a big trade and landed Rui Hachimura from the Wizards.

The last time Hachmiura was on the court, he scored a career-high 30 points during a win over the Magic. It was the second time this season that he had reached as many points in a single performance.

While this isn’t going to be the move that turns Los Angeles from a pretender to a contender, it could be a sign of what could come next for the Lakers. The franchise did not move any first-round picks in the deal, so more moves may be on the way.

The Lakers are expected to re-sign Hachmiura, which will limit their cap space during the upcoming offseason. However, that may not be the worst strategy if it bolsters their weak young core and provides players who can make a difference in a potential postseason run.

Lakers talked Evan Fournier for Kendrick Nunn-Patrick Beverley trade

The Lakers and Knicks reportedly talked about a trade scenario that would’ve brought L.A. small forward Evan Fournier.

Trade talks and rumors are just starting to heat up around the NBA as Thursday will be the first day teams are allowed to trade players they signed as free agents during the offseason.

It is no secret the Los Angeles Lakers need help at both forward positions, particularly with 3-point shooting, and they have targeted three players, in particular, to trade for.

One of those players is the New York Knicks Evan Fournier. In fact, one report said the Knicks had talked to the Lakers about sending them the sharpshooting small forward.

Via Lakers Daily:

“NBA insider Michael Scotto noted that the proposed deal would have sent Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn to the Knicks and was discussed before Knicks forward Cam Reddish was benched.

“‘Before Reddish’s recent benching in New York, the Knicks originally engaged the Lakers to see if they’d have interest in swapping Evan Fournier for Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn, league sources told HoopsHype,’ wrote Scotto. ‘Beverley and Nunn will both become unrestricted free agents after this season.

“‘Since then, the Knicks have reportedly looked to package Reddish with Fournier in various trade talks, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz.'”

The one possible concern is that Fournier, who is a career 38% 3-point shooter, has made just 33.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc this season. In addition, the Knicks seem disappointed in his defense, and he lost his starting job in early November.

Fournier has three years remaining on his contract (including this year) at $18-19 million per season. The third year is a team option.

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Lakers leaning toward dealing Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn instead of Russell Westbrook

The Lakers may not try to trade Russell Westbrook after all.

Just about everyone agrees the Los Angeles Lakers need to make a trade if they will have any hope of contending for the NBA championship this season.

After a very poor 2-10 start, they have shown definite signs of life by winning six of their last eight games. Their offense has been trending upward over the last few weeks, and Anthony Davis has been playing like his best self.

The conventional wisdom has been that Russell Westbrook would be the bait that would possibly bring L.A. its one or two missing pieces.

But now that Westbrook is playing well in his role off the bench, that thinking may have changed. Reportedly, the Lakers may instead opt to dangle Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley, another player on a veteran minimum contract and a future first-round draft pick.

Observations from Lakers vs. Warriors preseason game

The Lakers finally won a preseason game, and there are ample signs of hope moving forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers are inching closer to the start of the regular season, as they took on the Golden State Warriors on Sunday evening at Chase Center in San Francisco.

L.A. finally ended its preseason drought by eking out a 124-121 victory, which was its first such win in two years. The team looked pretty at times in doing so, especially on the offensive end, even without LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, both of whom sat out to rest.

The Lakers shot 50.0 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from 3-point land, and they also held the Warriors, those notorious outside snipers, to just 33.3 percent from deep.

Another pleasant surprise was the Lakers’ free throw shooting – they went 17-of-18 from the charity stripe. Last season, they were 29th in the NBA in free throw accuracy.

Three players, in particular, stood out for the victors.

Observations from Lakers vs. Suns preseason game

Despite losing by four, the Lakers looked much better on Wednesday against the Suns than they did on Monday.

The Los Angeles Lakers played very poorly overall in their first preseason game on Monday versus the Sacramento Kings, especially in the second half.

Although the Lakers lost again, this time by a score of 119-115, they showed definite signs of improvement, especially in the first half when they played a rotation that could’ve passed as one used in the regular season.

They did a decent job of pushing the pace at times, getting 16 fast-break points, and although they allowed 62 first-half points, they held Phoenix to under 40 percent shooting in that span.

Head coach Darvin Ham went with an interesting starting lineup that had 6-foot-9 Wenyen Gabriel at center instead of Anthony Davis, who was held out due to lower back tightness, Damian Jones, who started at the 5 on Monday or Thomas Bryant.

Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook started in the backcourt while Austin Reaves was at the 3 to begin the contest.

Kendrick Nunn says he felt real good in preseason opener

Lakers guard Kendrick Nunn felt no ill effects of the bone bruise in his knee that kept him out all last season.

One of the biggest disappointments for the Los Angeles Lakers in a season that was defined by them last year was the fact Kendrick Nunn was unable to play all year because of a bone bruise in his knee.

There was some concern for him this summer; the team was extremely cautious about ramping up his activity.

But he is healthy now, and he finally got back out on the court for game action in the Lakers’ preseason opener versus the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

His numbers — nine points on 4-of-7 shooting and five turnovers — weren’t exactly earth-shattering, but he looked solid at times, even if he wasn’t asserting himself as much as some would like.

More importantly, he said he felt good in his return.

“Getting my legs back under me, my speed, my strength, I felt real good out there,” Nunn said.

The Chicago native can make a big impact on the Lakers this season by giving them a legitimate scoring threat, another ball-handling initiator at guard and even another point-of-attack defender on the other end of the floor.

He can also reduce LeBron James’ workload during the regular season, which head coach Darvin Ham has identified as one of his big goals for the year.

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Lakers have started Kendrick Nunn and Damian Jones in training camp

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham seems to have a working starting lineup that he is starting to believe in.

One of the big questions regarding the Los Angeles Lakers this season is who will be in their starting lineup.

Other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there have been three spots that have seemingly been open, and head coach Darvin Ham seemed noncommittal in public when asked who would fill those spots.

But several days into training camp, there seems to be an answer, at least for now.

Ham said he has been starting Russell Westbrook, as well as guard Kendrick Nunn and center Damian Jones most often during practices, and that it has been his preferred starting lineup thus far.

However, it appears that starting lineup is fluid.

Jones was signed as a free agent earlier this summer, and while he isn’t an overpowering player, he is a relatively energetic 27-year-old who can block shots, rebound, run the floor and score every now and then.

Nunn didn’t play last season because of a bone bruise in his knee, but he is a proven scorer who is efficient from all over the court.

During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 14.6 points a game while shooting 48.5 percent overall and 38.1 percent from 3-point range.

Rob Pelinka: Kendrick Nunn has been fully cleared to start camp

According to the Lakers’ general manager, Kendrick Nunn is apparently good to go as the team starts training camp.

The Los Angeles Lakers were a failure last season, missing the play-in tournament, and one of the biggest reasons was injuries.

One of many players who missed considerable time was guard Kendrick Nunn, who didn’t play at all in the regular season due to a stubborn bone bruise.

This offseason, the Lakers were very cautious with him. They only allowed him to participate in individual workouts despite him saying publicly he was 100%.

But on media day, general manager Rob Pelinka said Nunn has been fully cleared to take part in contact drills.

Nunn, 27, can give Los Angeles a big lift this season if he is and remains fully healthy. During the 2020-21 campaign, his last full one, he averaged 14.6 points in 29.5 minutes a game while shooting 48.5% overall and 38.1% from 3-point range.

He can handle the ball in the open court and help the Lakers as a solid defender, especially against other small guards.

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Zach Lowe’s prediction on Lakers’ starting lineup this season

One NBA reporter predicts the Lakers will make a couple of interesting and debatable decisions when it comes to their starting lineup.

Other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there are plenty of questions about who will be in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Will Russell Westbrook still be there? What about Kendrick Nunn and newcomer Patrick Beverley? Will Austin Reaves get the nod, as some have suggested? Who will be the team’s starting center?

NBA reporter Zach Lowe gave his prediction on what L.A.’s starting five will look like this coming season, and it is sure to spark plenty of debate among fans.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Zach Lowe, host of “The Lowe Post” podcast, spoke with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne about a number of Lakers-related topics, and noted (at the 12:08 mark) that his opinion is simply something that he envisions.

” ‘So, based on what I’ve heard, my prediction for what will be the starting five, not what should, but what will, is Russ (Russell Westbrook), (Kendrick) Nunn, and the Nunn buzz … there’s a lot of Kendrick Nunn talk, among 25 people who care about it,’ Lowe said. ‘Russ, Nunn, LeBron (James), A.D. (Anthony Davis) and I think Damien Jones is right now the front-runner to start at center, and I am as big a Damian Jones fan as exists in the NBA media.'”

Westbrook and Nunn starting in the backcourt would be an interesting option. Such a tandem would give the Lakers abundant firepower to start each contest as well as a proven 3-point shooter, Nunn.

However, it would be an undersized backcourt that would likely be vulnerable on the defensive end.

Jones is an up-and-coming defensive center, and he could have a good shot at the starting 5 spot. However, Thomas Bryant, L.A.’s other true center, is a more proven 3-point shooter, and the team needs players around James, Davis and Westbrook who can space the floor and keep defenses honest.

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