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We learned Monday morning that Rui Hachimura will be heading to Inglewood to join the Clippers next season, on a two year deal worth $28 million (with the second season a team option). The Lakers had reportedly hoped they might be able to keep Hachimura around, but clearly he hasn't been a priority, given the number of players they've already brought in, and the fact that Rui has been extension eligible for a while, and yet here we are.
So why is he gone?
For starters, the Lakers simply seem to be prioritizing players they believe are more multi-dimensional than Rui, who has essentially one dimension... it just happens to be one (shooting) that he's fairly elite at (by percentage at least) and is always in demand.
It's reasonable to let Rui go, but it doesn't change the fact that the Lakers have holes around the roster that need filling. The question becomes how.
Meanwhile, why exactly did the Lakers and LeBron break up?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lost Rui. Now what?
SEGMENT 2: What the shift says about the team's priorities.
SEGMENT 3: Why LeBron and the Lakers broke up.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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"With Rui Hachimura Gone, Who Do the Lakers Target? Plus, Why LeBron and the Lakers Broke Up" is an episode of Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers. Runtime 37 min. Published July 7, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.