Since last season, he has been on the bench and will not start in the starting lineup this season.
Rui Hachimura is likely to play for the Wizards in just a few more games. The Athletic reports that the Wizards are in talks with several teams in the Western Conference about trading Hachimura.
Hachimura joined the Wizards in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft in the 9th pick, and was named the starting small forward his rookie year and started in all 48 games. He had 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. In the 2020-21 season, his second year, he moved his main position to power forward with the addition of Deni Abdiya, but strengthened his position further, starting in all 57 games, scoring 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds .
His 57 starts are second only to All-Stars Russell Westbrook (65) and Bradley Beal (60). He also made the playoffs this season. Despite losing to the 76ers in the first round, Hachimura scored 20 points in Game 4 and 21 points in Game 5, both with over 40 minutes of playing time. Expectations were placed on him as the team’s next ace.
However, when Kyle Kuzma joins in the 2021 offseason and Kristaps Porzingis joins in the trade during the 2021-22 season, the wind changes. Until then, Hachimura was the leading power forward, with Davis Bertans second. Kuzma is the first small forward and Abdija is the second. Abdija also started 32 games in his rookie season, but his playing time has decreased significantly this season in his sophomore season.
The situation has not changed this season, and Hachimura has appeared in 28 games while the Wizards have spent 44 games so far, and there is no chance to start. With less playing time, he averaged 12.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, down from his first two years.
Porzingis and Kuzma are both under contract until 2024 and will become free agents at the end of the season if they waive the final year of their player options. The Wizards plan to extend the contracts of both small forwards and the leading small forward, and are willing to release Hachimura in the sense of making room for the salary cap. Several teams are interested,” according to The Athletic.
Last month, it was reported that the Suns were looking to acquire Hachimura in connection with the sale of Jae Crowder. Crowder has not been with the team this season and has not played a single game as his relationship with the Suns has deteriorated. The team has not reached a 50% winning percentage, and is in a situation where Hachimura is needed to rebuild. Others include the Mavericks, who want to reduce the burden on Luka Doncic, the Clippers, who have not progressed even after the return of Kawhi Leonard, and the Trail Blazers, who have not seen any visible results from change to younger players, and it seems they need Hachimura. There are many teams.
Hachimura himself will become a restricted free agent after this season with a qualifying offer of $8.48 million. I can’t wait until the trade deadline on February 9th to see if I can earn a new contract with Shintenchi.
