American reporter: The Lakers have informed Rui Hachimura that they will not renew his contract, and the two sides will soon part ways.

According to confirmation from several NBA reporters, including Jack Fisher, the Los Angeles Lakers will part ways with 28-year-old Japanese forward Rui Hachimura. They have officially informed Hachimura that they will not extend his contract, which expires this summer.

Fisher further pointed out that the Lakers are expected to focus their efforts on acquiring 23-year-old wing Jonathan Kuminga in free agency. Meanwhile, several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, have expressed interest in Rui Hachimura.

Rui Hachimura, the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, began his professional career with the Washington Wizards. He played three and a half seasons with the Wizards, appearing in 177 regular season games and averaging 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 27.8 minutes per game.

In January 2023, Rui Hachimura was traded to the Lakers in a deal involving Kendrick Nunn. To date, he has played 228 regular season games for the Lakers, averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 27.9 minutes per game, and won the inaugural NBA Cup with the team in 2023.

Rui Hachimura also represented the Lakers in four playoff games, averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. Last season, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves sidelined due to injuries, he played a crucial role in the Lakers' 4-2 victory over the Houston Rockets and advancement to the second round of the playoffs.

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