Rui Hachimura’s Imminent Return Forces Lakers to Rethink Lineups, Defense, and Rotation Balance

LOS ANGELES – The 2025–26 season has been anything but smooth for the Los Angeles Lakers, who have spent much of the year juggling injuries, lineup changes, and evolving roles. One of the most significant absences during this stretch has been forward Rui Hachimura, sidelined with a left calf strain. While optimism briefly surfaced that he might return against the Milwaukee Bucks, Hachimura was ultimately ruled out before tipoff, and the Lakers fell 105–101 in a tightly contested game at Crypto.com Arena.

That loss once again underscored a growing reality for the Lakers: while they’ve managed to stay competitive, they are clearly missing key contributors. Hachimura’s impending return, however, presents both an opportunity and a dilemma—forcing head coach JJ Redick to make difficult decisions about lineup balance, defensive identity, and rotation depth.

Encouraging Signs in Hachimura’s Recovery

Before the Bucks game, Redick offered a cautiously optimistic update on Hachimura’s status.

“He’s made a lot of progress just in terms of regaining strength and mobility in his calf,” Redick said. “He had a good workout today, and there’s a lot of optimism that he’ll be available Monday. But we’ll see how the next few days go.”

Given the Lakers’ recent injury history, that optimism comes with restraint. Calf injuries have proven deceptively dangerous across the NBA in recent seasons, often escalating into Achilles issues if rushed. The Lakers are well aware of that risk, which explains their conservative approach—not only with Hachimura but also with guard Austin Reaves, who is dealing with a calf issue of his own.

Jake LaRavia’s Emergence Complicates the Picture

In Hachimura’s absence, Redick has leaned on Jake LaRavia to fill the starting forward role. What began as a temporary solution has evolved into a genuine rotation question. LaRavia hasn’t merely survived in the starting lineup—he’s thrived.

His energy, length, and defensive versatility have been especially valuable for a Lakers team searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. LaRavia’s ability to switch across multiple positions and apply pressure at the point of attack has helped stabilize a defense that struggled mightily earlier in the season.

That raises a critical question: when Hachimura returns, should LaRavia keep his starting role?

Defensive Identity at a Crossroads

Under Redick, the Lakers have recently leaned into a more defense-first starting group, inserting both LaRavia and Marcus Smart. The early returns have been encouraging. Point-of-attack defense—arguably the Lakers’ biggest weakness through the first half of the season—has shown noticeable improvement.

Hachimura, while far from a defensive liability, brings a different skill set. He is strongest against similarly sized forwards, using strength and positioning rather than lateral quickness. He’s not ideally suited to chase elite guards around the perimeter, which could create tension if Redick wants to preserve the defensive momentum his current lineup has generated.

That doesn’t mean Hachimura can’t help defensively. Instead, his role may shift toward help defense, weak-side rim protection, and rebounding—areas where his size and instincts can still make an impact without compromising the team’s perimeter defense.

Offensive Stability Without Austin Reaves

Offensively, Hachimura’s return could be even more critical. With Austin Reaves sidelined—potentially for close to two months—the Lakers have lost a major source of scoring, playmaking, and spacing. Reaves’ absence has left the offense vulnerable to extended dry spells, particularly when LeBron James is off the floor.

Hachimura’s ability to space the floor and knock down catch-and-shoot three-pointers becomes especially valuable in that context. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective, moves well without it, and can punish defenses that overload on LeBron or Anthony Davis.

Simply put, the Lakers need shooting, and Hachimura provides it in a way that fits seamlessly into their offensive structure.

Rotation Depth and Flexibility Matter More Than Ever

The Lakers’ rotation has been stretched thin for weeks. Every healthy body matters, and Hachimura’s return—whether as a starter or a high-minute bench contributor—gives Redick flexibility he hasn’t had recently.

Redick will need to strike a balance: maintaining the defensive gains made with LaRavia and Smart while reintegrating Hachimura’s offensive strengths. That could mean staggered lineups, matchup-based starting decisions, or even a temporary bench role for Hachimura until Reaves returns.

What’s clear is that this is not a simple plug-and-play situation. The Lakers are still defining who they are, and every rotation choice shapes that identity.

Looking Ahead in a Brutal Western Conference

The Western Conference remains unforgiving, and the Lakers don’t have the luxury of waiting for perfect health. They need to stack wins while surviving without Reaves, and Hachimura’s return could play a significant role in that effort.

If he can return soon—and stay healthy—Hachimura offers the Lakers a stabilizing presence on both ends of the floor. His shooting helps offensively, his size helps defensively, and his versatility gives Redick options at a time when options have been scarce.

The Lakers are still a work in progress. But as they navigate a difficult stretch of the schedule, Rui Hachimura’s return may represent a turning point—not just in terms of personnel, but in defining what kind of team they want to be.