While the LA Clippers await the NBA and the investigation into Kawhi Leonard, the franchise was able to land a big piece early in free agency. Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and the Clippers agreed on a two-year, $28 million deal that will keep the Japanese sharpshooter in Los Angeles
The move came as a bit of a surprise, as many expected Hachimura to find a new championship contender to play for while the Clippers looked to retool their roster into the post-Kawhi era of basketball
Hachimura and the Clippers agreed to the deal on July 5th. The franchise’s new power forward drove to Intuit Dome the following day, putting pen to paper and making it official. Hachimura addressed his decision to join the Clippers shortly after the signing
“I’m just so happy,” Hachimura said. “The Clippers are an amazing organization. Even when talking to other NBA players, they always rave about how great the Clippers organization is. It’s truly a player-first team, you know. They take care of their players while having that winning mentality. The Clippers are a young team. A year ago, they were called the oldest team in the league, but they’ve transitioned to a younger generation especially with Kawhi Leonard getting traded. Joining them right as they build this next generation is huge for me, and I’m incredibly excited.”
One of Rui Hachimura’s top priorities at the start of free agency was to find a good basketball fit for himself and his skillset at this stage in his career. The 28-year old also wanted to try and stay in Los Angeles, if possible
After parting ways with LeBron James and re-signing Austin Reaves, it became clear early in free agency that the Lakers had other priorities and that Hachimura wasn’t at the top of their list
With the move, Hachimura is able to stay in Los Angeles, a place he’s made home, and play for a franchise that will give him a real opportunity to showcase his abilities
“Above all, being able to stay in LA is the best outcome for me,” Hachimura added. “They support their players of course, their families and inner circles from what I hear. Plus they have a brand new arena with advanced physical and medical support and all kinds of useful tools for physical training. I’m really looking forward to all of it
Article Continues Below
“My top priority was winning. The roster construction, the team organization, and their style of play altogether, the Clippers felt like they gave me the best opportunity. Plus, like I keep saying, playing with a team of younger players is a first for me since my time with the Wizards. I’ve always played on roster with veterans, so having this experience is going to be a lot of fun
“It’s a young team and while the roster itself is young, the organization is relatively young here, too. They only moved to L.A. a few decades ago, so I want to help them build and shape that L.A. culture.”
After being traded from the Washington Wizards to the Los Angeles Lakers in January 2023, Hachimura went on to have some of the best years of his career with the Lakers. Hachimura went three straight seasons from 2023-26 shooting over 41 percent from three. Last postseason, Hachimura actually shot an absurd 56.9 percent from three in 10 games on 5.8 attempts per
In fact, Hachimura is actually the NBA’s all-time leader in playoff three-point percentage at 51.6 percent, minimum 100 attempts
After spending most of the last three seasons sitting on the three-point line, things may be changing. Rui Hachimura says he’s already spoken with members of the Clippers coaching staff, and they’ve also put together a plan for the Japanese forward
“I’ve spoken with the Clippers coaching staff, and they want me to shoot my three-pointers, of course, but also do more cutting,” Hachimura added in agreement. “In my final year with the Lakers, I couldn’t really make those cuts due to our team’s [structure], so the [Clippers] told me they want me to do more of that, which makes me really happy. I also want to focus on rebounding. Grabbing the boards and pushing the pace like I used to back in the day is something I want to keep doing. I think I can contribute in a lot of different ways. I’m excited. It’s a fresh start and a brand new source of motivation. Even though I’m staying in LA, it’s a completely different team, competing for a championship, pushing for the playoffs is a massive motivator for me.”
Now entering his eighth year in the league, the 27-year old Rui Hachimura will look to bring his highly efficient play-style to a Clippers team that has been looking for a power forward just like him for years. For his career, Hachimura has averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three
