The Los Angeles Lakers were busy in the first couple of hours in NBA free agency and they continued that trend with two more moves that included re-signing one of their top free agents.
At 6 PM ET, the 2023 edition of NBA free agency kicked off with a bevy of moves. Within an hour, All-Star talents like Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, and Khris Middleton were off the board. So were highly touted free agents like Kyle Kuzma and Fred VanVleet. Among those transactions, the Los Angeles Lakers made a few of their own.
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The team made a solid splash in the market when they signed Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taureon Prince and the Miami Heat’s instant offense guard Gabe Vincent. Yet that was just the beginning of a busy night for LA.
Los Angeles Lakers signed four players in the first few hours of NBA free agency
Not long after the Vincent signing, The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Los Angeles Lakers had come to terms on a three-year, $51 million deal with restricted free agent Rui Hachimura. After arriving at the NBA trade deadline in February, the Washington Wizards veteran gave the team a major boost off the bench and even worked his way into the starting lineup during the playoffs.
The deal is a major pay raise from an annual rate of $5 million last season to the $17 he will make starting next season.
Along with bringing back one of their top priorities in NBA free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers added even more swingman depth when Charania also revealed that the team had come to terms with former first-round pick Cam Reddish on a two-year deal. ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin added the deal is for the veterans minimum.
After just a few hours, the organization retained a key player from last season and then added strong bench depth in Prince, Vincent, and Reddish. Now, their focus will likely shift to Austin Reaves and if they will have to match any major offer sheets from rival teams for the restricted free agent.