Rui Hachimura is officially a Clipper now, and he made sure to say goodbye to the fanbase he’s leaving behind in purple and gold.
The free agent forward posted a short farewell to Lakers Nation on his Instagram story after news broke that he’d be signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s a move that sends him from one side of Staples Center to the other, basically swapping hallways and jerseys while staying in the same city.
“Thank you Lakers Nation for the past 3 years. We had some great moments and I will always remember the memories we made together,” Hachimura wrote.
The guy became a reliable piece for the Lakers during his time there. He gave them something they badly needed — consistent shooting from deep and enough size to hold up on defense. He wasn’t a star, but he was a legit rotation player who could get hot and change a game from the wing. That matters on a team that struggled for years to find anyone who could consistently knock down an open three.
There was some chatter that the Lakers might try to keep him, especially after LeBron James announced he was leaving L.A. this summer. But that never turned into anything real. Hachimura hit the open market and the Clippers moved fast. Now he’s on the other side of the rivalry.
The Lakers haven’t just sat around watching. They’ve made some moves. They brought in Walker Kessler through a sign-and-trade, picked up Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes in free agency, and added a few other names to fill out the roster. But the wing depth looks thin. Real thin. And the options still out there aren’t exactly inspiring.
One name floating around is Jonathan Kuminga. He got traded from Golden State to Atlanta, and then the Hawks declined his team option this summer, so he’s a free agent. Young, athletic, still developing. But that’s a gamble, not a sure thing.
For Lakers fans, watching Hachimura suit up for the Clippers next season is going to sting a little. He wasn’t just some rental. He was part of the core that helped them get through some rough stretches. Seeing him on the other side — in that other red jersey — will be a reminder that nothing in this league stays the same for long.
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