Rui Hachimura is staying in Los Angeles, but he will be wearing different colors next season. According to ESPN, free agent Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, ending his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers after three and a half seasons.
The move is one of the most notable signings of the NBA offseason, as Rui Hachimura switches sides in one of basketball’s biggest city rivalries while joining a Clippers team that has undergone significant changes during the summer.
Rui Hachimura leaves the Lakers after productive campaign
Hachimura arrived in Los Angeles midway through the 2022-23 season after being traded from the Washington Wizards and quickly established himself as an important part of the Lakers’ rotation.
During the 2025-26 campaign, the Japanese forward continued to provide scoring punch and versatility, proving valuable as a stretch forward capable of creating offense in transition, attacking mismatches, and defending multiple positions. His efficiency around the basket and improved perimeter shooting made him one of the Lakers’ more reliable complementary players throughout the season.
Despite his individual contributions, the Lakers entered the offseason facing major roster decisions, ultimately leading to significant changes that reshaped the franchise.
The end of an era in Los Angeles
Hachimura’s departure comes shortly after the Lakers also lost franchise icon LeBron James, whose exit officially closed one of the most successful chapters in recent franchise history.
With James no longer on the roster, the Lakers have entered a new era centered around a younger core and increased financial flexibility. Hachimura was viewed as a player who could have remained part of that transition, but instead elected to continue his career with the Clippers.
Ironically, he will not have to change cities, only locker rooms, as he prepares to remain in Los Angeles while joining one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals.
Clippers continue reshaping the roster
The Clippers have also experienced a transformative offseason. Following the departure of longtime franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard, who left to join the Toronto Raptors in blockbuster trade, the organization has focused on rebuilding its wing rotation while remaining competitive in the loaded Western Conference.
Hachimura fits that plan perfectly.
Known for his physicality, size, and ability to score without dominating the ball, he gives the Clippers another versatile forward capable of fitting alongside multiple lineup combinations. His offensive game has steadily evolved over recent seasons, while his defensive versatility allows him to guard several positions.
The two-year structure of the contract also provides flexibility for both sides. The Clippers add an experienced player entering the prime of his career, while Hachimura will have another opportunity to test free agency relatively soon.
A fresh opportunity
At 28 years old, Hachimura enters what should be the best years of his NBA career. The change of scenery could also translate into a larger offensive role, especially after the Clippers lost one of their primary scoring options with Leonard’s departure. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Hachimura is expected to play meaningful minutes and provide consistent production on both ends of the floor.
His playoff experience with the Lakers should also prove valuable for a Clippers team determined to remain in the postseason picture despite the roster turnover.
The move also adds another intriguing storyline to the Los Angeles rivalry. Every meeting between the Lakers and Clippers next season will feature Hachimura facing his former team, while the Lakers begin life without LeBron James and the Clippers look to move forward after Kawhi Leonard’s exit.
For both franchises, the offseason has marked the beginning of a new chapter. Hachimura now finds himself at the center of it, hoping to help the Clippers remain among the Western Conference contenders after signing his new two-year, $28 million deal.
