Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 1:01pm

HACHIMURA HEADED TO HOLLYWOOD

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired forward/center Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards for guard Kendrick Nunn, a second-round draft pick in 2023, a conditional second-round draft pick in 2028 and a second-round draft pick in 2029.

What does it give the Los Angeles Lakers
In Hachimura, the Lakers are getting the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. This season he has been coming off the bench for the Wizards, where he was averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30 games. He can play both forward positions and is shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc the last two seasons, which should help give the Lakers an additional scoring option in the front court.

What does it give the Washington Wizards
For Washington, this trade is about loading up on draft capital in exchange for a player that was not in their future plans. The return seems a little light with no first-round draft pick involved, but the second-round picks acquired could be used in a different deal in the future. Nunn did not see much playing time in LA, but he could see more minutes playing for the Wizards going forward. Keep an eye on Nunn.

Fantasy impact
Hachimura could be a solid fantasy bench option now that he is with the Lakers. He should see increased playing time while Anthony Davis is injured and, if his outside shooting numbers stay around 40 percent, Lebron James and co. should be able to find him for lots of open looks. As for Nunn, he is more of a depth player. Therefore, his fantasy outlook is not great.