The Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves throughout the NBA last season when the storied franchise made some incredibly smart trades ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Although D’Angelo Russell was the biggest name dealt to Los Angeles, Rui Hachimura started to make a name for himself after he was traded to the Lakers, as he flourished once the playoffs rolled around.
Fortunately for the team, Hachimura loved playing for the Lakers last season and was intent on staying and recently inked a long-term deal, as did Russell and Austin Reaves.
With Hachimura proving to be a solid role player in Los Angeles, the team has high hopes for him moving forward, as he could play a more significant role during the 2023-24 NBA season.
As Hachimura prepares for next season, the Lakers forward was seen at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo putting up some shots early in the morning, via the team’s Twitter account.
Buckets for breakfast. pic.twitter.com/N7ItFy8wex
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 21, 2023
If Hachimura can continue to improve while becoming a legitimate threat behind the arc, the Lakers may have a gem on their hands as this team continues to work toward winning an NBA-record 18 titles.
Along with the players that re-signed with the team, the Lakers brought in a few new faces to round out the roster, with notable additions like Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish.
All the new additions and returning players should make for an exciting Lakers squad for the upcoming season, with the team hoping to contend with the best of the best in the Western Conference.
NEXT: Analyst Criticizes 1 Team For Missing Out On Austin Reaves
