Rui Hachimura Discussion: Huge Buckets

Yeah yeah absolutely, there's no cap for staff! I was honestly expecting to have a lot more hires by now but little by little we seem to be boosting up. A lot of growth to be had there.

But I was referring to some comments I've seen with people mentioning Walter's big pockets as a factor this summer and it's not

 

I'm a pass on Rui unless you can get him for around $15 million.

He was efficient but he can't do anything else out there... The fact is, Rui will never be a good rebounder, defender, or playmaker. So you're essentially left with a guy who is good at hitting midrange and 3's. It's just not good enough if you're stressed out for $ for salary cap purposes. You need guys who have the potential to do more of the dirty work.

I think another issue is this looks a lot difference if Rui is able to take 7-8 threes per game. I get that he's not getting the shot attempts to do so but he takes a very low amount of 3's per game so even though he's efficient from it, the volume isn't there. It's in the same way similar to Kennard... Yeah, he can shoot the hell out of the ball but when you're only taking 4 of them per game, the value just isn't there enough.

For the Lakers to get to the next level, they need more versatile wings. Guys who can switch multiple positions and have an impact besides scoring. Reaves+Luka can score. Getting points won't be the core issue. It's whether you can make Reaves+Luka's life easier by doing the dirty things out there and Rui just doesn't do those things.

 

It’s also up to the coaching staff to get our top shooters more looks. Kennard has taken 6 a game before at 45%. We should be able get 5 each for Rui and Luke, and another 5 for our starting 3 (example Thybulle). That’s 15 shots at 40%+, that’s 20 points off our 3 point shooting without Luka, Reaves and LeBron’s attempts.

We have the opportunity to be one of the better 3 pt teams in the league, why fight it when we have 2 of those pieces already off the bench and another 2-3 high volume shooters in the starting lineup.

Rui at 16 per makes sense. Yes he isn’t a great rebounder, but he is an average defender so he is a very high 3 and an okay D, who can raise his offensive output with usage. Sign that.

 

I see it this way, if he was a good rebounder and defender, he'd probably be commanding 40M+ in today's market with his size and shooting combination. That's what guys like Anunoby make.

Rui was incredible when it mattered, I don't care he was crap in the regular season. Absolutely worth keeping him at a fair contract, meaning under 20M

 

Great postseason. This man actually deserves a raise.

 

It’s wild to me that we, as a fan base, have been complaining for year after year after year for a dead-eye shooter and we when finally have him, many want him gone for some mythical player who shoots like Rui, but plays better defense.
Just wild.