The Los Angeles Lakers have four of the five starting spots locked in with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton, but the fifth? That’s where the questions begin. Rui Hachimura has held this position for three seasons, yet the team’s shifting defensive priorities put him under the microscope. Media day conversations and trade whispers only add to the uncertainty- if Rui will stay in the starting five or if a new role, and possibly a new future, are on the horizon. Reports from inside the organization suggest changes could be coming.

This week, an insider laid out what the Lakers could be considering. Asked who should move for a few two-way glue guys, Jovan Buha named Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht as the primary candidates. Rui Hachimura? “It’s going to be a high bar to trade him. They really like Rui,” Buha explained. The franchise is leaning on him long-term, perhaps through the season, to see how the pieces around Luka fall into place. The possibility of an extension is still in the mix. 

Over the past few seasons, Hachimura has been the Lakers’ fifth starter, slotting next to LeBron, Luka, Austin, and Deandre Ayton. His blend of mid-range shooting and athleticism made him a natural fit. Last season, the four-person unit of LeBron, Luka, Rui, and Reaves played 226 minutes together, producing a net rating of 5.1. That’s the second-most minutes for a four-man lineup with Luka, with only one lineup surpassing it in efficiency. Yet, stats only tell part of the story. The defensive gaps and the need for bench scoring have made his role less specific.

Media Day highlighted the tension. Rui was measured but candid. “I mean, it’s coach’s decision,” he said. “It’s not my decision. It’s not really about who’s starting and not, it’s just the minutes and who can be on the court longer. I think it’s, for me, just whatever the team needs me to do. But we’ve been building the chemistry that I’ve been in the starting five for two, three years. So whatever they decide I have to do, it’s just a matter of the chemistry, how we can build, and we can be on the court together and how we can give an impact.”

Contrast that with Marcus Smart, whose approach to role and minutes was simple. “I’m here to win,” Smart said. “However, that means that’s me. No matter whether I start or come off the bench, my presence will be made.” The difference in tone is subtle but telling. Smart’s versatility makes him a defensive anchor regardless of position, while Rui’s ceiling is higher in offensive sync with Luka, but potentially limited defensively.

Rui’s contract adds another layer here. Signed for $18.26 million salary this season, with a team-friendly structure, he is both an asset and a lever. His scoring efficiency (49.6% from the field, 38.1% career-wide) and athletic profile suggest a long-term fit, yet the Lakers are weighing whether a starting spot is his best path forward or if bench usage maximizes both his and the team’s output. League insiders believe the Lakers’ front office is examining every angle.

Rui Hachimura and the Lakers’ potential strategic pivot

Buha highlighted, “You could throw in Rui. I think it would have to be a longer-term piece who’s better and/or fits better next to Luka, particularly defensively.” Trading him isn’t easy, as he has defensive limitations but a budding offensive chemistry that isn’t easily replicated. The Lakers may be willing to see how the season grows, keeping him for stability and considering optionality for an extension. The calculation doesn’t stop with player performance either.

Moving a rotation piece like Rui impacts contracts and the ability to add depth through two-way deals. Buha noted the importance of preserving core assets while looking at potential acquisitions: “Otherwise, I don’t like—I mean, they could swing bigger and try to move Austin, but I don’t like that. They want to keep Austin. People are sleeping on his contract; projected to make at least $35 million if not more. You don’t pay that to a bench player.”

This balancing scene is about more than stats and salary. It’s about fit and the narrative of a team trying to mesh veterans with a young star like Luka. Rui’s role is at a crossroads, maintaining a starting spot for immediate chemistry or adjusting for long-term flexibility. The Lakers’ front office is navigating these waters carefully, aware that each decision reverberates through the locker room and the cap sheet. 

LeBron James, of course, is still the gravitational center, but the Lakers’ new structure is gradually less dependent on his daily imprint. With Luka locked in long term, Ayton providing interior presence, Austin Reaves thriving as a facilitator, and Smart bringing defensive stability, the team’s rotation flexibility has never been higher. Rui’s potential shift to the bench, or even as a trade piece, would be part of this larger puzzle.

In essence, the Lakers are walking a tightrope. They want to maximize their current roster, respect the growth of young talent, and maintain options for the future. Rui Hachimura sits at the intersection of those priorities. How they navigate his role could set the tone for the season, dictating potential trades and the ultimate success of this reimagined Lakers squad.

Rui remains both a starter and a question mark, a player whose value may be measured as much by the moves he triggers as by the points he scores.