The Wizards are exploring trade options beyond the fourth year, according to people familiar with the situation. Athletic first reported on Wednesday.
Standing in the hallway of Capital One Arena One-sided victory over the Orlando Magic, Hachimura expressed dissatisfaction with his position on the team. Do not know. “
“I just want to be where people want me as a basketball player,” he continued. “And I want to be where people love me and love my game. I just want to be a place that trusts and believes in me, but I can be who I am — that’s my goal.”
Wizard Hachimura was the 9th overall pick in the 2019 Draft and started him in all 48 games he played his rookie year cut short by injury. He is averaging 13 points in his fourth year. This is slightly down from his second-year career-high of 13.8, but his second-year coach, Wes, is off his Unseld Jr. bench.
On Saturday, Hachimura, 24, described his season as “up and downs”.It started off on a high note—he arrived refreshed afterwards Missed the first half of the 2021-22 season for a mental health break leading role During two games of the Wizards’ preseason showcase in their home country of Japan against the Golden State Warriors.
In late November, a sprained ankle and a bruised bone kept him out of action for a month. He missed 16 games. But since his return on Dec. 22, Hachimura has been a spark plug off the bench. Both of his 30-point performances came in that span.
“We’ve had our ups and downs as a team,” Hachimura said Saturday when asked about the season. “I was also injured and had to be out of the line for about a month. But somehow someone has to put it all together… the culture, I guess that’s all I can say, it’s just hard, for all of us it’s where we want to be No, but I’m sure it will work.”
Hachimura isn’t the only Wizards player with an uncertain future.
Washington has a complex and costly task ahead to maintain its core trio of center Kristaps Porzingis, forward Kyle Kuzma and guard Bradley Beal. Porzingis has a $36 million player option for next season, Kuzma told plans to explore free agency.
Washington has signaled to other teams that they want to keep Kuzma, but paying him market price could bring the Wizards closer to a luxury tax, according to multiple people familiar with their plans. ‘s Ted Leonsis has paid the luxury tax only once since taking full ownership of the team in 2010.
Moving Hachimura would solve at least one problem for the Wizards. In the 2020 draft, he has been battling 9th overall pick Hachimura and Denia Vdiya in forward traffic for several minutes. Washington has a starting lineup with Kuzma at small forward and Porzingis at power forward. This is Hachimura’s original position.
“[Porzingis] Play more time with [power forward] When asked about traffic jams on Saturday, Anseld said: “Deni doesn’t take too many minutes on the 4 — minimizes the minutes on the Trash 4. So you can see where some of them are feeling a little cramped, but I Now that we’re complete, that’s the person we need right now – we’re going to call that person.
It should come as no surprise to either side that Washington is seeking trade. The team has supported Hachimura during his tenure, including off-court during a mental health break last season, but failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension this fall.
The Wizards’ desire to reach out to the Japanese fanbase that Hachimura brought with him when he entered the NBA has also apparently dwindled. (Leonsis had been a candidate for months). buy a sizeable stake in the Washington Nationals.) Also, in monumental sports Sponsorship contract As in Hachimura’s first three years, this season he partnered with Tokyo-based NEC Corporation.
Asked about his mindset amid trade rumors, Hachimura said all he could do was believe in himself. The trading deadline is February 9th for him.
“I just play my game, right? [for] other teams,” he said. “…so I have to stay focused on the present moment. I know everything that’s going on right now, but I have to play the game and be myself.”
