Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

One of the big tricks in forecasting free agency is trying to figure out how much value a player has to a large number of teams around the league. Certain players - your stars, or near-stars - generally fit anywhere and will perform as advertised.

Others are clearly more dependent on context. Like Rui Hachimura.

His statistics, particularly in the regular season, weren't much different than the numbers he posted in Washington, his impact with LA, and the niche he filled around LeBron and Anthony Davis, was important. He gave them another large body defensively, a guy who could create his own shot off the dribble in the mid-range, and - at least in the playoffs - step out and hit a 3-pointer.

So while Hachimura may not be a great fit or merit a huge payday with every team, with the Lakers he is a key piece. Particularly when you consider who else the Lakers might find to replace him, should Hachimura land in another city next year. While LA can match any offer he receives, they won't have that flexibility to offer a potential replacement. It's a double whammy - perhaps they'd be forced to use their larger exception to sign a good player, meaning that same exception couldn't be used for adding talent to last year's team.

The same principle applies to D'Angelo Russell, as well. His name was again in the news, as Toronto guard Fred VanVleet announced he'd be opting out of his deal with the Raptors, making him a free agent. Would a sign-and-trade to Toronto make any sense?

Well, maybe more than one with Dallas... but not a ton.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: How much is Rui Hachimura worth on the open market?

SEGMENT 2: Is there a limit to what the Lakers might pay? Breaking down potential replacements, should they let him go.

SEGMENT 3: Does VanVleet opting out change the trade market for Russell?

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