Rui Hachimura Crosses the Hallway: Agrees to a Two-Year, $28M USD Deal With the Los Angeles Clippers
The 28-year-old forward is officially leaving the Lakers to join their cross-town rivals on a mid-level exception contract.
Summary
Free agent forward Rui Hachimura has officially agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $28 million USD deal
The Japanese international will cross the hallway at Crypto.com Arena, leaving the Lakers after a significant stint to strengthen the Clippers' frontcourt
The deal reportedly includes a team option for the second season and was finalized using the Clippers' mid-level exception
The battle for Los Angeles just got a little more interesting. After a pivotal stint with the purple and gold, free agent forward Rui Hachimura is officially staying in the city, but he’s trading in his uniform. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 28-year-old has agreed to a two-year, $28 million USD deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, making a massive cross-town pivot that immediately shakes up the Western Conference landscape.
Hachimura’s move to the Clippers is a strategic, high-value acquisition for the franchise. The front office utilized their mid-level exception to secure the forward, locking in a contract that includes a team option for the 2027-28 season.
For the Clippers, the addition provides immediate relief and elite floor spacing. Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank confirmed the signing, praising the Japanese star’s hyper-efficient mid-range game and absolute lockdown ability. Fresh off a season where he shot a blistering 44% from beyond the arc while averaging 11.5 points, Hachimura is expected to slide seamlessly into the rotation, utilizing his size to exploit mismatches and provide necessary frontcourt depth. “Rui is an elite three-point shooter and an efficient mid-range scorer who uses his size to exploit mismatches. He will strengthen our frontcourt with his one-on-one defense and ability to space the floor,” said Lawrence Frank, Clippers President of Basketball Operations.
On the other side of the hallway, Hachimura’s departure signals the definitive end of an era for the Lakers. The exit means that the Lakers’ entire starting lineup from Game 1 of last season’s playoff run—including Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard—will now be playing elsewhere.
With Hachimura officially secured, the Clippers are completely reloading for the upcoming season, keeping their championship window wide open while simultaneously gutting the depth of their biggest rival.
Just in: Free agent Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Cixx1ZGPV3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2026
