Ty Lue Issues One Key Challenge to Rui Hachimura

Forward Rui Hachimura joined the Los Angeles Clippers this summer as a free agent on a two-year, $28 million deal because he can shoot, but head coach Tyronn Lue has given him a goal that has nothing to do with the three-point line.

According reporters who covers the team, Lue has challenged Hachimura to average seven to eight rebounds a game, and Hachimura spoke about it in a clip posted on the night of the preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Hachimura did not dodge it, as he said he just has to go get the rebounds, and he added that rebounding was the first thing he talked about with the coaching staff when he got to the Clippers.

He also admitted that there were times when he had a chance to crash the rim and did not, and he said "sometimes I just get lazy" before adding that he has to keep it in mind and keep going.

Lue is asking for a big jump, because Hachimura averaged 3.3 rebounds a game in 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, and his best year on the glass was 2019-20 with the Washington Wizards, when he averaged 6.1 a game.

This preseason he had five rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 4, three against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 10 and five against Denver, which adds up to 13 in three preseason games.

I like this push from Lue, because rebounding is more about effort than skill.

Lue has also talked about wanting to expand Hachimura's game by posting him up more and giving him more mismatches, so the staff sees him as more than a spot-up shooter.

During training camp, Lue named Hachimura and guard Max Strus as the quickest learners among the new players, and coaches tend to hand more work to the players they trust.

Hachimura is going to get that extra work early, because forward Brandon Ingram, center Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Strus will all miss the start of the season, and guard Bradley Beal will not be ready either because of his knee.

With so many players out, the injuries leave Hachimura with more chances to make an impact on a team that is short on bodies.

The Clippers open the season against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 21, then visit the Lakers on Friday, Oct. 23 and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Oct. 25.

The Clippers have also started guard Keaton Wagler next to guard Darius Garland, so the team will need its forwards to help the guards by cleaning up misses.

I do not expect Hachimura to grab eight rebounds a night right away, since he has never averaged more than 6.1 in a season, but six a game would be a real win for this team.

If he can turn those lazy moments into a couple of extra boards each night, Lue will have a forward who does more than space the floor, and I think that could swing a few close games while the Clippers wait to get healthy.