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Rui Hachimura leaves Lakers and joins Clippers on $28 million contract
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- Rui Hachimura leaves Lakers and joins Clippers on $28 million contract
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The Los Angeles Lakers had made a lot of moves to start free agency, but they hadn't re-signed one of their own , Rui Hachimura . There was uncertainty on if he'd return, but all of that was put to rest when he signed with the Clippers instead, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
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"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," Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Clippers now add a proven forward to their rotation, and there's a good chance that he starts alongside players such as Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram , who was just traded to the team in the Kawhi Leonard deal.
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Hachimura averaged 11.5 points in 68 games for the Lakers last season.
The Clippers were never rumored to have interest in Hachimura as free agency began. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors were the two teams mentioned , according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, and the Lakers were always a team to look out for, just in case they wanted to re-sign him.
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The thing with the Lakers was that they were going to have to make moves in order to bring him. Once they traded Deandre Ayton , there was a possibility, but it doesn't seem like anything materialized.
As for the Clippers, they may not be done making moves, as they still have their eyes on restricted free agent Peyton Watson .
"The Clippers are signing Rui Hachimura by way of their mid-level exception, per source. The two-year, $28 million deal has a team option in the second season, and I'm being told does not rule out Los Angeles from a sign-and-trade pursuit of Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson," Fischer wrote.
If the Clippers are able to get Watson, their offseason should be considered a win.
Related: NBA rumors: Does Clippers' Rui Hachimura addition take them out of Peyton Watson sweepstakes?
Related: Former Kings GM joins Clippers' front office in special role
