LeBron James was the Lakers‘ biggest loss this summer, but he wasn’t their only loss. In fact, following their second-round playoff loss to the Thunder in May, the Lakers set to work on a roster overhaul that featured the departure of several core players.
One such player was veteran swingman Rui Hachimura, the 9th overall pick in 2019. He started 68 games for the Lake Show last season, but now he’s on the other side of town after signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers. While there is still much work to be done, Rui is already enjoying his new reality after early talks with the Clippers coaching staff. In a recent interview, he explained how the Clippers plan to utilize his game and what makes it different than how the Lakers were using him.
“I’ve spoken with the Clippers coaching staff, and they want me to shoot my three-pointers, of course,” Hachimura said, via Black Samurai. “But also do more cutting. In my final year with the Lakers, I couldn’t really do those cuts due to our team situation. So they told me they want me to do more of that, which makes me really happy. I also want to focus on rebounding, grabbing the board, and pushing the pace. Like I used to back in the day. I think I can contribute in a lot of different ways.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick had Rui as a regular member of the rotation, and his presence on the wing was key for floor spacing and maintaining certain defensive matchups. He earned respect from his teammates, and many fans were hoping to see him return on a team-friendly deal this summer. Of course, that never materialized.
The Lakers are a team built from the top down, and it shows in how much money they have tied up in their main three players. On the court, this translates into a roster with an inconsistent supporting cast, and one that relies far too much on its stars to carry the offense. Last season, with LeBron on the team, Rui was often the odd man out, relegated to a more stationary, linear playstyle.
On the Clippers, however, Rui will have the freedom to return to his roots while also expanding his game as we’ve never seen before. With no proper superstar to demand the ball, Hachimura will have a green light he hasn’t experienced since his days with the Wizards. What he will do with it remains to be seen, but there is optimism that he can be a high-impact player for them after averaging 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 51.4% shooting and 44.3% shooting from three.
In the end, it’s a lesson that sometimes, the most glamorous situation isn’t always the best. As much as being a Laker is highly lucrative, it demands attention and comes with a lot of pressure. It’s not for everyone, especially for role-players who can often feel left out. In Rui’s case, it required him to play a more passive, supportive role, and he made the most of it where he could. But now that he’s on the other side, Hachimura can admit that the way the Lakers were operating was holding him back.
