Free agent Rui Hachimura has signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN.
Hachimura and his agent Darren Matsubara of THE•TEAM came to an agreement with the Clippers early in their free agent careers on a joint deal. According to a source close to Hachimura, the parties were waiting for the Lakers to complete their offseason deals to finalize a contract, but the Lakers did not cooperate on any of them. Instead, the Clippers and Hachimura moved forward to keep him in his desired position in Los Angeles.
Hachimura turned down offers from the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs because he wanted to stay in Los Angeles with the Clippers, sources said.
The Lakers and Clippers discussed signing Hachimura, but the Clippers offered minimal money as the Lakers expected to raise capital as a potential return, sources said.
Hachimura had a super-efficient regular season – averaging 11.5 points on 51.4% shooting from the field and 44.3% from 3-point range – and a torrid postseason. Hachimura, 28, averaged 17.5 points on 54.9 percent shooting from the field and 56.9 percent from three in the playoffs, first among all players with at least five attempts per game in the 2026 postseason.
The Clippers are interested in restricted free agent Peyton Watson, and the Hachimura deal leaves room for the franchise to pursue Watson, sources say. Born in Long Beach, California, Watson attended UCLA before being selected 30th overall in the 2022 draft by Denver and becoming a high-level starter.
Hachimura, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Lakers in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and four second-round picks in the 2022-23 season and has become a reliable member of the team’s core and a popular figure in the locker room.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward was one of eight free agents on the Lakers’ 15-man roster who was on an expiring contract worth $18.3 million.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report..