The futures of LeBron James and Austin Reaves are big talking points when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, but as things stand, another key member of the team is hitting the market in 2026. Rui Hachimura is entering the final year of his contract in 2025-26, and Lakers insider Jovan Buha spoke about his future during a recent Q&A.

“They can’t extend him at the end of the season,” Buha said. “With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers in the next six weeks. It’s certainly possible that something happens, but I would say most of what’s been out there is them wanting to keep the books clean.

“I think wanting to see whether he starts or whether he’s their sixth man,” Buha continued. “Just kind of how the pieces fit this year… I think for the Lakers overall, there’s a lot of evaluation with so many guys being in contract years that this is a big year for deciding who are we going to keep, who are we going to trade, who are we going to let walk next summer.”

The Lakers handed out two-year deals to Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia in free agency as they look to keep their books clean. The only player who is a lock to stay with the team long-term is Luka Doncic, who was signed to a three-year, $165 million extension earlier this month.

It appears Hachimura will need to have quite an impressive 2025-26 campaign if he is to get another contract from the Lakers. Buha states that the team is high on the forward, but they want to see how he fits in following the addition of Ayton and Smart.

The Lakers had acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks in January 2023. He helped the team get to the Western Conference Finals that year in a reserve role and was rewarded with a three-year, $51 million deal in the offseason.

Hachimura was then made a starter mid-way through the 2023-24 season by then-head coach Darvin Ham. Ham’s firing after the campaign didn’t change the forward’s role as new head coach JJ Redick kept him in the starting lineup.

Hachimura averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25. The 27-year-old played his part in the team getting the third seed in the West with a 50-32 record.

The Lakers would lose in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Hachimura still had a productive series. He averaged 14.8 points while shooting 49.1% from the field and 48.4% from three.

While Hachimura isn’t likely to be rewarded with an extension this summer, his play might have ensured he keeps his spot in the lineup. He featured in the Lakers’ expected starting five for 2025-26 along with Doncic, Reaves, James, and Ayton.

Of that group of five, though, Hachimura seems the likeliest to lose his spot. He would hope that doesn’t happen, as that would hurt his chances of getting another big contract in 2026, whether it’s with the Lakers or someone else.