The Los Angeles Lakers closed a big trade with the Washington Wizards on Monday, sending Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks for former first-rounder Rui Hachimura.
As the trade fell, we got to see the first reaction from a Lakers player.
Dennis Schröder was live streaming when one of his viewers asked what he thought of the trade for Hachimura.
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Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura reacts after a goal against the Orlando Magic during the first half of a game on Saturday, January 21, 2023 in Washington.
(TBEN Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
He had no idea what the viewer was talking about (this video link contains NSFW language).
“What trade? Rui? Oh no, no, no,” said a stunned Schröder. “Rui for Kendrick Nunn? Oh my god, I need to text Rui. I need to text Kendrick Nunn.”
Schröder got out of his chair, apparently to get his cell phone. When he came back he was still in shock.
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However, he understands the nature of the game.
“That’s crazy, man. The NBA, it’s a business — insane,” he said.
Dennis Schröder of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of Game 2 of a Western Conference first round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Ariz.
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“We are excited to welcome Rui and his family to the Los Angeles Lakers,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “Adding both size and depth to the wing position has been a goal, and the opportunity to achieve that by acquiring a player with Rui’s two-way skills and advantage was an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often. We would like to thank Kendrick Nunn and his family for his time as Laker, and we wish him only the best in the future.”
The Wizards selected Hachimura ninth overall from Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA Draft, and he was named to the All-Rookie Team after averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for Washington.
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He has maintained that production, averaging 13 points per game off the bench for the Wizards in 30 games this season.
Dennis Schröder of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Phoenix Suns during Game 3 of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2021 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
However, with the Wizards’ failure to sign him to a rookie extension before the season began, they were rumored to buy him. The rumors eventually turned out to be true.
“I just want to be somewhere where I want to be as a basketball player,” Hachimura said last week. “And I want to be somewhere that likes my game. … I just want to be somewhere that believes in me and can be myself. That’s my goal.”
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Nunn has had limited time with the Lakers this season, averaging 13.5 minutes over his 39 games with 6.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He broke into the NBA scene during the 2019-20 season when he averaged 15.3 points per game for the Miami Heat as their starting point guard.
