Spurs named landing spot for $51 million record-setting Lakers forward after NBA Finals loss

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June 21, 2026

On June 21, 2026

Spurs named landing spot for $51 million record-setting Lakers forward after NBA Finals loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Antonio Spurs are likely to adjust their roster following an unsuccessful NBA Finals series vs. the New York Knicks.

However, it’s unlikely any of their moves will be groundbreaking, given the fact that San Antonio’s commendable playoff run proves it’s officially in championship contention.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks floated the idea of the Spurs signing a record-setting Los Angeles Lakers role player who will garner plenty of attention on the offseason free agent market.

“The Spurs have the flexibility to go out and do some free-agency shopping,” Marks said Monday. “When you look at the playoffs, they need a combo big man who can complement Victor (Wembanyama).”

“When you look at a stretch four, a player like Rui Hachimura from the Lakers — you pair him up with a big who can shoot. Regardless, the Spurs are set up really nicely for the future.”

The Lakers’ postseason didn’t end the way they wanted. Although Los Angeles defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round, the franchise failed to overcome the loss of Luka Doncic (hamstring injury) in the Western Conference Semifinals and was eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Hachimura was undoubtedly a bright spot for Los Angeles in the playoffs, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 54.9% from the field and 56.9% from beyond the arc (he now owns the highest career playoff three-point percentage in NBA history- 50.8%).

The Gonzaga product’s above-average floor spacing and consistent off-ball movement would allow him to seamlessly fill the Spurs’ noticeable power forward void in 2026-27.

At the end of the day, it’ll be up to the Spurs to decide whether to enter a bidding war for the former first-round pick.

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