Forward Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year contract worth $28 million with the Los Angeles Clippers, departing the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. The deal includes a team option for the 2027-28 season, marking a major cross-town shift for the former Gonzaga standout.
Free Agency Move and Contract Details
Free agent forward Rui Hachimura finalized his move to the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year contract valued at $28 million if a team option for the 2027-28 season is exercised, according to NBA.com. Financial terms of the agreement were confirmed by an individual speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as neither side initially disclosed the numbers publicly. ESPN and the Los Angeles Times were among the first outlets to report the potential value of the transaction.
The agreement brings an end to Hachimura’s three-year tenure with the purple-and-gold. Across his first eight NBA seasons, the 28-year-old has now represented three distinct franchises, having previously played for the Washington Wizards before his time with the Lakers.
Lawrence Frank, Clippers basketball operations president
Frank praised the addition after the signing was completed Monday, emphasizing the player’s offensive and defensive traits. Rui is an elite 3-point shooter and an efficient mid-range scorer who uses his size to exploit mismatches,
Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said after the signing was completed Monday. He will strengthen our frontcourt with his one-on-one defense and ability to space the floor. Rui is also a well-liked and respected teammate who continues to grow his game. We're excited to add him.
Frontcourt Impact and Previous Production
Hachimura’s departure leaves a significant void for the Lakers, who are still trying to work out their starting power forward situation. Last season, the forward averaged 11.5 points per contest while converting 44 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, placing him among the league’s top long-range threats.
His shooting prowess reached another level during the postseason. In the postseason, he was a literal flamethrower from beyond the arc, cashing 57 percent of his tries while averaging nearly 18 points per game.
With Hachimura heading across town, the Lakers face a wholesale reshuffling of their roster. His departure means all five players that the Lakers started in Game 1 of last season’s playoff run—Hachimura, LeBron James (still choosing a new team), Deandre Ayton (trade to Washington), Marcus Smart (agreed to sign with Houston) and Luke Kennard (agreed to sign with Phoenix)—will play elsewhere this season. Meanwhile, backcourt mainstays Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both of whom will remain with the Lakers, would have been starters for that Game 1 but were injured.
Missed Opportunities and San Antonio Speculation
The decision to remain in Los Angeles has drawn external scrutiny following subsequent front office developments. Writing on X, San Antonio Spurs analyst Dusty Garza raised questions about the forward’s choice given the financial and structural alternatives available during the summer.
Dusty Garza, San Antonio Spurs analyst
Watching the Clippers implode today, you have to wonder if Rui Hachimura regrets his July free agency choice,
Garza wrote on X. “The Spurs called him with the full (midlevel exception) to put him next to (Victor Wembanyama) on a contender with plenty of draft capital and a bright future but instead, he took the exact same money (2 years, $28M) to stay in LA with the Clippers (except the deal he took features a second-year team option. Ouch!) The Spurs immediately pivoted and signed Tobias Harris when they heard him waffling.”
However, NBA insider Brett Siegel clarified earlier in the offseason why the Spurs were no longer an option for Hachimura. Although the San Antonio Spurs were brought up as a potential suitor for Hachimura earlier this offseason,
Siegel wrote, “he wasn’t viewed as a realistic option for the franchise, sources said. While the organization did speak with Hachimura’s representation, the Spurs were targeting experience and veteran leadership on a short-term contract rather than a long-term commitment. That is why Tobias Harris was the Spurs’ top target, and they didn’t have much interest in Hachimura.”
