The Lakers will be without Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves for the upcoming road trip. JJ Redick confirmed both will remain in Los Angeles, with Rui potentially practicing with the South Bay Lakers. Both are dealing with calf strains, the kind of injury where teams have to walk a fine line between getting a player back and not rushing them into a worse situation.
As with many Lakers injuries, what began as cautious optimism has quickly shifted into something more serious. JJ Redick initially said that Rui’s injury wasn’t something they were concerned with. But now it seems he could be out for an extended period.
JJ Redick says Rui Hachimura (calf) will not go on the upcoming Pelicans-Spurs road trip and could get in some practice with South Bay while the Lakers are out of town.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 5, 2026
Why the Absences Sting
Losing two starters is a tough blow, especially in a very competitive Western Conference. Reaves was having an All-Star season. Rui was the Lakers’ best spot-up shooter. The Lakers will have a tough task making up for the offense those two brought to the court. The continuity and chemistry the lineup was trying to build is also forced to be put on pause due to their absence.
The Silver Lining: Defense and Athleticism
With Austin and Rui out, the Lakers can lean fully into their more defensive, athletic lineups. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James driving the offense, the surrounding pieces don’t need to create; they just need to defend.
Fans have grown frustrated with Hachimura’s defensive lapses. Missed rotations and lost assignments have consistently been an issue. Part of the problem is he’s forced to play out of position. But a lot of it is just attention to detail. Reaves competes defensively but isn’t a stopper, especially against athletic backcourts.
But this situation opens the door for Marcus Smart to play a larger role as a true perimeter stopper. He’s actually someone you’d be comfortable taking on the toughest opposing backcourt assignment nightly.
Jake LaRavia has also made the most of his starting opportunities so far. His blend of size, effort, and defensive awareness makes him a more balanced option, even if the scoring ceiling is lower.
The Bottom Line
This stretch won’t be easy. But it could unlock a defensive identity they’ve lacked so far this season. They’re clearly a better team with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. But the Lakers can use this time to figure out which lineups give them the necessary balance and make the most sense with Luka and LeBron.
