Rui Hachimura is changing a narrative that followed him to the trade deadline.

Entering the 2024-25 NBA season, the narrative surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers was that they’d need to trade an important player to make a meaningful upgrade.

The two players and contracts that were most commonly mentioned in those speculative discussions were Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves.

Reaves is showcasing All-Star potential that has justified the Lakers’ refusal to trade him, and Hachimura is beginning to prove too valuable to move in his own right.

Hachimura has been an enigmatic figure throughout his NBA career.

Flashes of brilliance while starring for Japan in international play have implied that he has untapped potential to explore, but he’s thus far struggled to combine volume with efficiency.

If Hachimura’s recent form is sustained, it would be fair to argue that an inability to consistently and efficiently produce is no longer an issue.

Hachimura has turned a corner, accumulating averages of 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 three-point field goals made on .556/.431/.760 shooting over his past 10 appearances.

He’s scored at least 20 points in six of those 10 games, posting at least 17 in eight.

As a result, Hachimura is beginning to back the Lakers into a corner in which they’ll need to seriously consider how reasonable it would be to trade him this summer.

Rui Hachimura isn’t quite untradable, but he’s getting there

The reason many speculatively believe that the Lakers might consider trading Hachimura this summer is simple.

The 27-year-old is a prototypical forward for the modern era whose quality on both ends of the floor provides reason to believe rival executives could be open to acquiring him.

Equal in importance is the fact that Hachimura will make an expiring salary of $18,259,259 for the 2025-26 season that could prove invaluable in a potential move for an impact player.

On one front, the Lakers could flip Hachimura’s expiring contract for a player who they decide is a better short-term or long-term fit.

On another, Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent are in line to make a combined $43,529,259 in expiring salaries—meaning Los Angeles could use those figures to facilitate a trade for an All-Star.

The reality facing the Lakers in 2024-25, however, is that Hachimura may actually be more valuable on the court than he is on the negotiating front.

Hachimura has become a constant source of energy for a team that, early in the season, struggled to find it on defense.

He’s played with impressive intensity in every phase, including an increased focus on spacing the floor, attacking closeouts, and crashing the offensive glass.

It’s been a tone-setting effort for a team that has an abundance of talent, but spent much of the season searching for the proverbial glue guys to create cohesion.

With a trio of Dorian Finney-Smith, Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Lakers now have three forwards who can provide impact minutes.

That could prove invaluable for a team that plans to play through the playmaking of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.

Much could change between now and the offseason, but Hachimura is on his way to securing a long-term future in Los Angeles if he sustains his current form.