Lakers Forward Emerges as the Spurs Perfect Free Agent Target
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Jeremy Sochan is out. Rui Hachimura could be next in San Antonio. Here’s why Bleacher Report’s projection makes real basketball sense for the Spurs building around Wembanyama.
The San Antonio Spurs waived former lottery pick Jeremy Sochan this week. Shortly after clearing waivers, Sochan signed with the New York Knicksending a tenure that once looked foundational.
The move signals more than a roster shuffle. Sochan fell out of the rotation amid inconsistent production and the rapid emergence of rookie forward Carter Bryant. Meanwhile, veteran Harrison Barnes is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer at age 34. Put those two developments together, and the Spurs suddenly look like a team that could target a floor-spacing power forward.
In a recent Bleacher Report piece projecting every NBA team’s top free agent target, NBA writer Grant Hughes identified Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura as a logical fit for San Antonio. Given the Spurs’ roster construction and Hachimura’s current situation in Los Angeles, that projection carries weight.
Hachimura Solves San Antonio’s Biggest Weakness
Grant Hughes’ projection zeroes in on the Spurs’ biggest weakness: frontcourt shooting. San Antonio needs reliable volume spacing at power forward. Hachimura provides exactly that.
He has shot over 41 percent from three in each of the last three seasons. This year, he is hovering near 44 percent on roughly four attempts per game. That consistency would immediately complement Wembanyama’s interior gravity.
The Spurs’ offense thrives when the paint stays open. Victor Wembanyama bends defenses at the rim. Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper are still developing as perimeter threats. A proven floor spacer at the four would punish help defenders and create cleaner driving lanes for players like De’Aaron Fox who thrives as a downhill slasher.
Defensively, Hachimura has limitations. That concern has capped his role with the Lakers. But context matters. Few teams can better mask defensive flaws than a Spurs lineup anchored by Wembanyama’s rim protection and supported by switchable perimeter defenders.
Why Hachimura Is a Realistic Option
Hachimura’s situation in Los Angeles strengthens Hughes’ projection. The Lakers recently rested Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and Deandre Ayton in a blowout loss to San Antonio. Hachimura still logged 27 minutes. I finished with six points on 3-of-12 shooting. Earlier this season, he was demoted to a reserve role as the Lakers prioritized point-of-attack defense in their starting lineup.
He enters unrestricted free agency this summer at 28 years old. Los Angeles appears focused on reshaping the roster around Doncic. Hachimura’s shooting holds value, but his defensive profile does not fully align with their preferred archetype. That creates opportunity.
San Antonio does not need a high-usage scorer. It needs a scalable piece who can stretch the floor without disrupting offensive flow. Hachimura has already come he can play off stars.
The Wembanyama Timeline
The Spurs sit near the top of the Western Conference. This is no longer a slow rebuild. It is a team calibrating around a generational centerpiece. Signing Hachimura would not be a splash move, but it would be a calculated one that aligns with the direction the team is heading towards.
Floor spacing at power forward maximizes Victor Wembanyama’s impact. Plus Hachimura has shown the ability to step up as a primary shot maker when asked to. At best he could act as a younger, more athletic version of what they are currently getting from Harrison Barnes.
Think of players Portland Trail Blazers forward Jeremy Grant or Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason. But even at his floor, he can act a typical floor spacer like Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson or Indiana Pacers’ Obi Toppin, who is still serviceable when healthy.
Jeremy Sochan’s departure opened the door. Grant Hughes’ projection identifies a clean solution. For a Spurs team building carefully around Wembanyama, Rui Hachimura checks the right boxes at the right time.
Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon
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