Rui Hachimura is joining the Clippers

[ASFN Admin]

Forward Rui Hachimura, who spent the last three and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, has been a free agent since last week. He's staying in the Southland, but with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers, per ESPN. The Clippers attempted to work a sign-and-trade deal with the Purple and Gold, but to no avail.

"Free agent Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal to sign with the LA Clippers, sources tell ESPN," wrote Shams Charania.

"Hachimura and his agent Darren Matsubara of THE•TEAM came to an understanding with the Clippers early in free agency on finding a deal together. The sides waited for the Lakers to complete their offseason business to pursue a sign-and-trade, but the Lakers didn't cooperate on one, according to a source close to Hachimura. Instead, the Clippers and Hachimura moved forward to keep him in his desired location of Los Angeles.

"Hachimura turned down offers from the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs because he wanted to remain in L.A. for the Clippers, sources said.

"The Lakers and Clippers had a discussion around a Hachimura sign-and-trade, but the Clippers offered minimal cash as the Lakers expected draft capital in a potential return, sources said."

The Lakers reportedly wanted to keep Hachimura in free agency this summer, but their interest in him eventually cooled off. They lack salary cap space after agreeing to trade for center Walker Kessler and agreeing to free agent deals with Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton.

Hachimura averaged 12.3 points a game and shot 51.6% from the field and 41.5% from 3-point range during the regular season with the Lakers. In this spring's playoffs, he put up 17.5 points a game and made 56.9% of his 3-point attempts with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves missing time due to injuries.

He originally came to the Lakers in a January 2023 trade that sent out guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks to the Washington Wizards.

The Lakers may now shift their attention to obtaining free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. According to insider Jake Fischer, Kuminga was their top wing target as of this weekend.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rui Hachimura is joining the Clippers

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