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When NBA free agency kicked off several weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers saw a rapid exodus of talent, losing LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes in quick succession. As the team began to reconstruct its roster, a glaring vacancy remained at one of the starting forward spots, and there was optimism that Rui Hachimura might re-sign with the franchise.
Instead, Hachimura chose to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, a squad that many observers view as being on a downward slide. The Clippers are no longer the formidable contenders they were in previous years, particularly with star forward Kawhi Leonard reportedly on the verge of being traded to the Toronto Raptors, and with Paul George, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac having already departed.
Despite those losses, Hachimura spoke glowingly about the Clippers organization in an interview with ClutchPoints, saying he is "so happy" to be part of the team. He praised the franchise as "an amazing organization," noting that other NBA players consistently speak highly of it. "It's truly a player-first team," Hachimura said. "They take care of their players while having that winning mentality."
The Clippers have undergone a significant roster overhaul, transitioning from one of the oldest teams in the league to a youthful core. This shift is highlighted by the acquisition of Darius Garland from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Harden, and the drafting of rookie Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick in June. While the team might miss the playoffs again this season, Hachimura cited several factors that drew him to the organization.
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Hachimura emphasized that remaining in Los Angeles was a top priority, as it allows him to stay in a city he loves. He also pointed to the Clippers' state-of-the-art arena and the comprehensive physical and medical support available to players. "They support their players, of course, their families and inner circles from what I hear," he added. "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."
Winning was another crucial consideration for Hachimura. He believes the Clippers' roster construction, organizational structure, and style of play give him the best chance to succeed. "The roster construction, the team organization, and their style of play altogether, the Clippers felt like they gave me the best opportunity," he explained. Additionally, he is excited about playing with a younger group, a first since his time with the Washington Wizards. "I've always played on rosters with veterans, so having this experience is going to be a lot of fun," he said.
Hachimura also expressed a desire to help build the Clippers' identity in Los Angeles, noting that the franchise is relatively young compared to other teams in the city. "They only moved to L.A. a few decades ago, so I want to help them build and shape that L.A. culture," he said.
Hachimura originally joined the Lakers in January 2023 via a trade with the Wizards, when the team was desperate for productive role players, especially at forward. Known for his isolation scoring, he elevated his game in Los Angeles by becoming an elite 3-point shooter. After hitting just 31.9% from beyond the arc in the 2022-23 season, he has since converted 42.6% of his attempts, including a blistering 44.3% last season. In the playoffs this spring, he shot 56.9% from deep, moving into first place all-time in career playoff 3-point accuracy at 51.6%. Re-signing him would have given the Lakers at least a temporary answer to their starting forward dilemma.
Originally reported by yahoo.