newsweek
Veteran forward Rui Hachimura is moving on to the next chapter of his NBA career.
On Monday, Hachimura agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers staying in town after ending his four-year stint with the Lakers.
Hachimura entered the league as the Washington Wizards' No.
9 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
He made his way to Los Angeles in a trade midway through the Lakers' 2022-23 NBA campaign.
Hachimura was a consistent producer for the Lakers over his time in LA, averaging 12.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
He lifted his production in the playoffs this past season, averaging 17.5 points per game on an elite 56.9% shooting from behind the 3-point arc as the Lakers took down the Houston Rockets in Round 1 and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2.
Hachimura strengthens the Clippers' depth chart at the forward position following the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors.
He joins a group featuring Brandon Ingram, Derrick Jones Jr., Baba Miller and Isaiah Jackson.
The Lakers made two significant front-court moves before Hachimura's departure, adding Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz and signing free-agent big man Sandro Mamukelashvili.