Nets and Spurs emerge as suitors for Lakers forward Rui Hachimura
The Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are among the teams showing interest in Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura ahead of NBA free agency, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. League sources say Brooklyn keeps coming up as a likely suitor, while San Antonio may pursue frontcourt scoring if Harrison Barnes departs. Hachimura is a Lakers forward entering a crowded free-agent market, and both franchises could pursue him depending on cap space, roster fit, and timing around the July negotiating window.
Key Takeaways
- Marc Stein and Jake Fischer report the Nets and Spurs as suitors for Rui Hachimura.
- Hachimura averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on 51.4/44.3/69.4 shooting in 2025-26.
- Brooklyn can operate with more than $40 million in cap space before finalizing its Julius Randle trade.
- San Antonio may need frontcourt scoring if Harrison Barnes leaves in free agency.
- Teams can begin contacting outside free agents Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Why are the Nets interested in Rui Hachimura?
Brooklyn keeps coming up as a likely suitor for the Lakers' Rui Hachimura, league sources told Stein and Fischer in Yahoo Sports. The Nets finished 20-62 last season and have already reshaped their roster, acquiring three-time All-Star Julius Randle in a three-team deal that sent Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
Even after that trade, Brooklyn retains significant flexibility. Stein and Fischer noted the Nets can operate with over $40 million in cap space if they sign free agents before finalizing the Randle swap. That room makes Hachimura a realistic target.
Hachimura is a 6-foot-8 power forward who excels as a floor spacer. He shot 39.4% from three-point range and earned $18.3 million last season. Brooklyn already has Michael Porter Jr. and Randle at the forward spots, so Hachimura could slot in as a bench scorer rather than a starter.
Could the Spurs replace Harrison Barnes with Hachimura?
The Spurs are the other team Stein and Fischer linked to Hachimura. San Antonio is also sorting out Harrison Barnes' future as the veteran forward heads to unrestricted free agency.
Depending on what happens with Barnes, the Spurs could look for additional frontcourt scoring. Hachimura's efficient offense and perimeter shooting would give San Antonio another reliable scoring option on the wing.
Brooklyn and San Antonio are not the only names in the conversation, but they are the two franchises insiders have heard about most consistently. That alone signals a competitive market for a player drawing multiple suitors.
What does this mean for the Lakers?
Hachimura has been an efficient offensive option throughout his Lakers tenure. During the 2025-26 campaign, he posted 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field. His 44.3% mark from deep underscored the spacing value that is drawing outside interest.
Stein and Fischer report the Nets and Spurs are among the teams interested in adding Hachimura's services. With free agency contact rules opening Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET, his market could move quickly once outside teams can place calls.
Who else are the Nets targeting?
Hachimura is not Brooklyn's only rumored target. Stein and Fischer also connected the Nets to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, as Bleacher Report outlined after the Randle trade.
Ellis would bring three-and-D shooting on a likely modest deal, while Robinson would address rim protection the Nets lack. For more on how cap-flexible teams reshape rosters through data-driven scouting, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
Brooklyn has been active all summer, from the Randle trade to draft additions, yet still has room to add veterans when the clock strikes 6:00 p.m. ET in New York on Tuesday.