LeBron James 'needs' Rui Hachimura but new Los Angeles Lakers star given warning

25 January 2023 , 12:42

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LeBron James has received reinforcements after asking

The Los Angeles Lakers lost 133-115 to rivals Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, highlighting that they need more than just LeBron James out on the court.

But thankfully, the Lakers front office announced shortly before the game that they'd acquired Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards - while sending Kendrick Nunn and three future second-round picks the other way. The Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka is keen on further upgrading their roster, but only if it's 'wise'.

Hachimura looks like a solid trade, and he'll certainly help James take some of the weight too. However, playing for the Lakers is a whole different ball game, and he's been warned by Undisputed host Shannon Sharpe.

Hachimura may be talented, but many players have made the Lakers move and not been able to replicate their success. It's a whole level above, even if their current record may not justify that.

The cameras are always on you, and with James roaming the court, so is every ounce of attention. It's because of this that Hachimura has been warned, but that's not to suggest that he can't overcome it.

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"This is a low risk, but the potential to be really good," Sharpe said on Undisputed. "But it comes back to this. I get Rui Hachimura and he's good at shooting from three, a sharp-shooter... but a lot of guys can shoot the basketball when they're on another team.

"But all of a sudden they're getting LeBron and they're like 'LeBron like to win'. Because that light, it's something about that light because life with LeBron James is like being on Broadway.

Hachimura traded to the Lakers on Tuesday

"The lights are bright on Broadway, but it seems like they're even brighter when you play alongside LeBron James. Only a handful of guys have been able to rise to the occasion. Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis for that one season, but there have been a lot of guys where that light's too hot and they couldn't handle it."

But Sharpe did take a look at why this situation may be a little different as he said: "The Lakers are a small team, so he does bring some size. He played really well the last game he played, he got 30 against the Magic, so we'll see."

James needs reinforcements regardless, and after dropped a 46-point game against the Clippers and still losing by 18, that's not a good enough standard for the four-time MVP. James needs Davis to get back as soon as possible, and with Hachimura in as well, it could be a strong starting line-up until the end of the season.

Joseph McBride