They’re old. They’re injured. They’re expensive. Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn ACL and won’t be back until the middle of next season. Kristaps Porzingis might walk in free agency. The supporting cast around Stephen Curry is thinner than it’s been in years.
But here’s the thing: the Warriors don’t need a superstar. They need value. They need players who can shoot, defend, and fit into their system without breaking the bank.
Enter Rui Hachimura.
Rui Hachimura Focused on Lakers Future Rather Than Free Agency
The Los Angeles Lakers’ free agent forward just had an outstanding postseason. With Luka Dončić injured and Austin Reaves available for only part of the series, Hachimura stepped up and played some of the best basketball of his career.
Now he’s hitting the open market. And according to Fadeaway World, the Warriors should be first in line.
Let me break down why Hachimura makes sense for Golden State, what it would take to sign him, and why the Lakers might actually let him walk.
The Postseason Breakout: Hachimura’s Coming-Out Party
Let me start with what Hachimura just did in the playoffs.
The Lakers entered the postseason without Luka Dončić. Their best player was watching from the bench in street clothes. Austin Reaves missed games. LeBron James is 41 years old and can’t carry the team by himself anymore.
Someone had to step up.
That someone was Rui Hachimura.
He played with confidence. He shot the ball with a quick trigger. He defended bigger wings. He attacked closeouts. He did all the little things that winning teams need.
His value skyrocketed. Not because he became a superstar overnight — but because he proved he could be a reliable, productive starter when the games mattered most.
Why the Warriors Want Him: The Fadeaway World Logic
Let me bring in the expert analysis.
Fadeaway World recently named Hachimura among the top free agent targets for the Warriors. Here’s what they wrote:
“The Warriors could find a practical and realistic target in Rui Hachimura, provided his price does not climb too high. What matters is the shooting, which has proven consistent and represents a genuine leap. He can slide in cleanly next to Stephen Curry, stay in the corner, punish help defense, attack late closeouts, and give the Warriors a bigger, more physical wing body than most of their current options.”
Let me translate that.
The Warriors need three things from any free agent they sign: shooting, defense, and fit.
Hachimura checks all three boxes.
Shooting: Hachimura has become a consistent three-point threat. He’s not elite, but he’s reliable. Defenses can’t leave him open. In Golden State’s system, where Curry and Draymond create open looks, Hachimura would thrive.
Defense: At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Hachimura is a physical wing who can guard multiple positions. He’s not a lockdown defender, but he’s solid. He can take the tougher assignment so Curry doesn’t have to.
Fit: Hachimura is a low-maintenance player. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands. He’s comfortable standing in the corner, waiting for the kick-out, and knocking down open shots. He’s exactly the kind of complementary piece who flourishes next to Curry.
The Jimmy Butler Injury: Why the Warriors Need Wings
Let me talk about the elephant in the room.
Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL in January. He’s 37 years old. He’s not expected to return until the middle of next season — and even then, he won’t be the same player.
The Warriors are desperate for wing depth.
Their current wing rotation is thin. Andrew Wiggins is still there, but he’s inconsistent. Moses Moody is developing but not ready for major minutes. Gary Payton II is a defensive specialist, not a scorer.
Golden State needs a forward who can:
Play 25-30 minutes per night
Knock down open threes
Defend bigger wings
Stay healthy
Rui Hachimura fits that description perfectly.
The Price Tag: What Will Hachimura Cost?
Let me get into the money.
Hachimura is not a max player. He’s not even close. But he’s also not a minimum-salary guy anymore. His playoff performance earned him a raise.
What the Warriors can offer: Roughly $15 million per year on a three-year contract. That’s the non-taxpayer mid-level exception range — the Warriors’ primary tool for signing free agents.
What Hachimura might want: Something in the $15-20 million per year range. He’s 28 years old. This is his prime. He needs to maximize his earnings.
If Hachimura’s price climbs above $15 million, the Warriors are likely out. They can’t afford to pay him more than that without gutting the rest of their roster.
But if he’s available at $12-15 million? Golden State should sprint to the negotiating table.
The Lakers’ Dilemma: Can They Keep Him?
Let me switch to the Lakers’ perspective.
Los Angeles wants to keep Hachimura. He’s a fan favorite. He fits well next to LeBron James and Luka Dončić. He’s a proven playoff performer.
But the Lakers have a money problem.
They have to pay Austin Reaves first. He’s the priority. He’s the future. Then they have to figure out LeBron’s contract. Then they have to decide on other free agents like Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard.
Hachimura might be the odd man out.
General Manager Rob Pelinka could get cheap with Hachimura. He could offer him a below-market deal, hoping that loyalty to the Lakers keeps him in L.A.
But if Pelinka lowballs him, Hachimura will test the market. And the Warriors will be waiting.
The Porzingis Connection: Choosing Between Two Bigs
Let me address an important subplot.
Kristaps Porzingis is also a free agent. The Warriors could re-sign him to be their starting center. But Porzingis is expensive (over $30 million) and always injured.
If the Warriors choose to sign Hachimura, they’re essentially choosing him over Porzingis. They can’t afford both.
Which player makes more sense?
Porzingis is a unicorn when healthy — a 7-foot-3 rim protector who can stretch the floor. But he’s also a gamble. He’s missed significant time in almost every season of his career.
Hachimura is a safer bet. He’s durable. He’s consistent. He’s cheaper. And he fills a position of need — wing — that the Warriors have struggled to fill for years.
If I’m Mike Dunleavy Jr., I’m choosing Hachimura.
The Competition: Who Else Wants Rui?
Let me mention that the Warriors aren’t alone.
If Hachimura hits the open market, several teams will come calling.
Brooklyn Nets: They have cap space and a need for forwards. They could offer Hachimura more money than the Warriors.
Chicago Bulls: They’re rebuilding and could use a young, productive wing. They have the cap space to make a competitive offer.
Sacramento Kings: They need forwards who can defend. Hachimura fits their timeline.
The Warriors can’t compete with these teams on raw dollars. They can only offer the mid-level exception — roughly $15 million per year.
But here’s what the Warriors can offer that other teams can’t: winning.
Hachimura wants to compete for a championship. He wants to play next to Stephen Curry. He wants to be in a system that maximizes his skills.
If the money is close, Golden State has the edge.
The Fit Next to Curry: Why It Works
Let me paint a picture of Hachimura in Golden State’s offense.
Scenario 1: Curry runs a pick-and-roll with Draymond Green. The defense collapses. Green kicks it to Hachimura in the corner. Wide-open three. Swish.
Scenario 2: Curry is doubled 30 feet from the basket. He swings the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura attacks the closeout, gets to his mid-range spot, and pulls up. Bucket.
Scenario 3: Transition offense. Curry pushes the ball. Hachimura runs to the corner. The defense scrambles to find Curry. Hachimura is left alone. Three-pointer. Cash.
Hachimura doesn’t need plays called for him. He doesn’t need isolations. He just needs to be in the right spots — and with Curry, the right spots are always open.
The Defense: Can Hachimura Help?
Let me talk about the other end of the floor.
The Warriors’ defense has declined. They’re not the switch-everything, terrorizing unit they were in their dynasty years. They need wings who can guard.
Hachimura is not an All-Defensive player. He’s not Draymond Green. But he’s solid. He’s strong. He has good lateral quickness for his size.
He can guard the opposing team’s third or fourth scoring option, allowing Andrew Wiggins to take the tougher assignment and Curry to hide on the weakest perimeter player.
That’s valuable. That’s exactly what the Warriors need.
Final Verdict: Sign Him If the Price Is Right
Here’s my honest take.
The Golden State Warriors should absolutely pursue Rui Hachimura in free agency. Not at 20millionperyear.Notat20millionperyear.Notat18 million. But at $12-15 million? Yes. Every time.
Hachimura fills a clear need. He can shoot. He can defend. He fits next to Curry. He’s durable. He’s entering his prime.
The Warriors can’t afford to swing for the fences on every free agent. They don’t have the cap space. They need value signings — players who can contribute without breaking the bank.
Rui Hachimura is that player.
The Lakers might keep him. The Nets might overpay him. The Bulls might swoop in.
But if Hachimura wants to win, if he wants to play next to Stephen Curry, if he wants to be part of something special — Golden State is the answer.
One thing’s certain: The Warriors are going to be active in free agency. And Rui Hachimura should be at the top of their list.