New NBA Rumors on Rui Hachimura's Clippers Contract After Lakers Exit, Latest LAC Roster, Salary Cap

The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly made a key frontcourt addition in free agency on Monday.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the team agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with Rui Hachimura, with The Stein Line's Jake Fischer reporting he's fitting into the mid-level exception.

Charania also reported the Lakers and Clippers discussed a possible sign-and-trade but the Clippers "offered minimal cash as the Lakers expected draft capital in a potential return."

He joins a Clippers frontcourt that's set to lose Kawhi Leonard and John Collins while adding Brandon Ingram.

Clippers Projected Depth Chart

PG: Darius Garland, Kris Dunn

SG: Keaton Wagler, Bennedict Mathurin, Gradey Dick

SF: Brandon Ingram, Bennedict Mathurin, Kobe Sanders

PF: Rui Hachimura, Derrick Jones Jr., Baba Miller

C: Brook Lopez, Isaiah Jackson, Baba Miller

Collins' exit and Leonard's departure allowed L.A. to enjoy some financial flexibility, which the front office is utilizing here. With a payroll of around $158 million, the Clippers are running out of room.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Hachimura had interest from other teams but chose to stay in Los Angeles:

Hachimura spent his 2025-26 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing on the final season of a three-year contract worth $51 million that he signed in Jun. 2023.

The 28-year-old opened his career on the Washington Wizards in 2019 before he was traded to the Lakers in Jan. 2023.

He was an important piece of Los Angeles' rotation last season, averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while connecting on 51.4 percent of his field goals and 44.3 percent of his triples.

Hachimura also shot a team-high 55.6 percent on mid-range jumpers in the regular season.

He stepped up during the Lakers' playoff run, recording 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game on 54.9/56.9/72.7 shooting splits in 10 postseason appearances while Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić missed time due to injuries.

Law Murray of The Athletic reported Dončić wanted Hachimura to stay in purple and gold:

Hachimura has served as a consistent complementary scoring option throughout his NBA tenure, averaging at least 11 points per game and shooting over 46 percent from the field in all seven years that he's spent in the association.

Now, he'll look to provide a boost to the Clippers' offensive output after they finished with a 42-40 record last season and narrowly missed the playoffs.