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    Lakers extend qualifying offers to Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, making them restricted free agents
    • June 28, 2023

    EL SEGUNDO — A formality became official for the Lakers on Tuesday evening.

    The Lakers officially extended qualifying offers to guard Austin Reaves and forward Rui Hachimura.

    The moves, which were expected, will make the duo restricted free agents when the free agency negotiating window starts Friday at 3 p.m. PT.

    The Lakers had until Thursday to make a one-year, $2.19 million qualifying offer to Reaves and a 1-year, $7.74 million offer to Hachimura.

    The offers don’t guarantee that Reaves or Hachimura will be back with the team next season, but the Lakers will have the right to match any contract offer either player receives from another team.

    The Lakers can still negotiate long-term deals with both players.

    Reaves, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2021, originally signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in August 2021 before signing a 2-year, $2.49 million standard NBA deal the following month ahead of the 2021-22 season.

    The 25-year-old guard is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 13 points (68.7% true shooting – a formula that incorporates free throws and higher-value 3-point shots), 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds in 28.8 minutes (64 games – 22 starts).

    Reaves stepped up in the postseason as the team’s third-leading playoff scorer, averaging 16.9 points (61.6% true shooting), 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 36.2 minutes (16 games – all starts) during the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference finals.

    The Lakers acquired Hachimura, the No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft, in a Jan. 23 trade with the Washington Wizards.

    Hachimura averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in his 33 regular-season games with the Lakers. He found his offensive rhythm, especially as a 3-point shooter, during the playoffs, averaging 12.2 points (48.7% shooting from 3-point range) and 3.6 rebounds as a key part of the rotation (24.3 minutes – 16 games played and one start).

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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