The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday extended playoff offers for forward Rui Hachimura and guard Austin Reeves.
As a result of qualifying offers, Hachimura and Reaves became restricted free agents.
After joining Los Angeles via trade from Washington on January 23, Hachimura appeared in 33 games (nine starts) and averaged 9.6 points (. 485 FG%) and 4.7 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per contest to finish the 2022-23 regular season. Overall, Hachimura appeared in 63 games (nine starts) with the Lakers and Wizards last season and averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. During the 2023 NBA Playoffs with Purple and Gold, Hachimura averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 16 games (one start), shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 48.7 percent from 3-point range, good for the sixth-best mark in the playoffs. The 25-year-old was the only player in the 2023 NBA Playoffs to shoot at least 55 percent from the field (minimum 10 FGA minutes), 48 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line. On April 16 against Memphis, Hachimura scored 29 points (11-14 FG, 3-6 3FG) to go with six rebounds and one assist off the bench, tying Mikal Thompson in 1988 for the most points scored by a Lakers reserve in a playoff game. Game. Hachimura then finished with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal on April 19 at the Grizzlies, becoming the first Lakers player since Magic Johnson in 1996 to score more than 20 points off the bench in consecutive playoff games.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Reaves appeared in 64 games (22 starts) for the Lakers, averaging 13.0 points (. 529 FG%, . 398 3P%), 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.8 minutes. Reaves joins Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard as the only players in the league to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line (200 FTM min). The 25-year-old has scored in double figures in 42 games, including 10 games with 20-plus points and one 30-point performance. On March 19 against Orlando, Reeves finished with 35 points (9-14 FG, 16-18 FT) while adding six rebounds and six assists, becoming the first undrafted Lakers player to score more than 35 points and only the second player in team history to score more than 35+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists off the bench. In his second season with the Lakers, Reeves improved his career scoring and assist averages, as well as shooting percentages from the field, three-point range, and charity bar. In 16 playoff games (all starts) last season, Reaves averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field, 44.3% from long distance, and 89.5% from the free throw line. He scored in double figures in 15 of his 16 playoff games, including seven games with at least 20 points.