This offseason, former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, landing home across town from his previous team. The Los Angeles Clippers have had an active offseason as they traded their All-NBA small forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. 

The Clippers are in the early stages of their rebuild. They traded away their star player and drafted guard Keaton Wagler out of Illinois with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft. Still, they sought a veteran forward in Hachimura, and he believes it's the best fit for him on the market.

"My top priority was winning. The roster construction, the team organization, and their style of play altogether, the Clippers felt like they gave me the best opportunity," Hachimura said.

"Plus, like I keep saying, playing with a team of younger players is a first for me since my time with the Wizards. I've always played on a roster with veterans, so having this experience is going to be a lot of fun."

One big factor that went into Rui Hachimura's decision to join the Clippers was the system he'd be playing in. Last season, the Lakers asked Hachimura to play around the perimeter and shoot from long range. Hachimura was able to complete the task as he shot 44.3 from three-point range last season. 

This season, Hachimura wants to cut to the basket more often, and it's something the Clippers coaching staff wants to see more from him moving forward. He is a forward who stands at 6'8 and weighs 230 pounds, and if he can use that size to his advantage, Hachimura could become a versatile player on both ends. 

He even said himself that he wants to prioritize rebounding the ball and pushing the pace in transition, similar to what he did in his days with the Washington Wizards. 

Not only did the coaching staff steer him towards the franchise, but he also pointed to the state of the roster. Hachimura truly believes this Clippers team is a team that's capable of making the playoffs, and he wanted to go to a team that could compete for a championship. 

The Clippers hope that former Raptors forward Brandon Ingram can replace the level of production Kawhi Leonard gave them last season. Ingram is a forward who is also a 20-point-per-game scorer, and he's someone who can take control of this Los Angeles offensive attack. 

If the Clippers get the most out of Ingram and the supporting cast can contribute, they could be in the mix for a 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. The Clippers are young, but they have the mix of talented veterans to keep them competitive in 2026.