Rui Hachimura’s four-year run with the Los Angeles Lakers is officially over after the 28-year-old star agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, as ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news.
This move had been in the works for some time. Hachimura and his agent, Darren Matsubara of THE•TEAM, had an understanding with the Clippers when free agency began. Their hope was that they could complete a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers, but that did not come to life.
Hachimura and the Clippers waited for the Lakers to complete other moves, but the Lakers decided not to help out with a sign-and-trade agreement.
It’s a major loss for the Lakers, who have undergone a dramatic makeover this offseason.
Hachimura had become one of the best role players for the Lakers in his four seasons in Los Angeles. Across his tenure, he averaged 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 51.6% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range.
His final season was his most efficient one yet. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from three-point range. He was one of the Lakers’ most dependable floor spacers for years and formed a close bond with Luka Doncic since his arrival in 2025.
The Lakers would have almost certainly wanted to keep Hachimura, but with their significant offseason additions, they were left with a little over $2 million in cap space. The Lakers would have loved to get off Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract to keep Hachimura, but they were unable to make any salary dump moves.
And matching the Clippers’ offer just wasn’t possible for the Lakers.
For the Clippers, this is a smart piece of business. Hachimura fills the starting power forward spot, and the team gets an efficient shooter and versatile defender.
Rui also gets to stay in Los Angeles, something that mattered throughout the entire process.
For Lakers fans, Hachimura’s departure marks the end of an underrated chapter. He was never the biggest star, but he delivered when his team needed him and had become the team’s most trusted role player. Now he will ply his trade across town at the Intuit Dome.
