Enough time has passed since Rui Hachimura signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to give Los Angeles Lakers fans closure on seeing the sharpshooting forward depart for the crosstown rival. Rob Pelinka and his front office probably got that feeling of finality right from the jump, if Brian Windhorst is correct in his assessment on negotiations between Rui and his now former franchise.
Hachimura signed for two years and $28 million to stay in the city with the Clippers. $14 million per year for the services of Hachimura is a completely reasonable price. That may not have been the number at which the Lakers could have retained him.
Windhorst said on his podcast: "I'm not sure he would have signed for $14 million with the Lakers. ... This is the same situation with Tobias Harris. Tobias Harris signed for $16 million with the [San Antonio] Spurs. I'm not sure he would have stayed in Detroit for $16 million."
The ESPN insider added that when players are switching teams, that is when you will see them take less money. That grace is not always given to the franchises trying to retain them. If that was the case behind closed doors with Rui and the Lakers, it made perfect sense as to why the broke up.
Rui Hachimura may not have given Lakers the same grace he offered the Clippers
Losing Hachimura was not a foregone conclusion, by any means. In a retool around Luka Doncic, the Lakers superstar reportedly had Rui on his list of preferred players to see return to the franchise.
That would have given plenty of reason for Pelinka to try and retain him. Everything for the Lakers has been geared toward making Doncic happy this offseason.
Ultimately, it takes two to tango.
Hachimura was earning an annual average salary of $17 million on his last deal with the Lakers. In his final season with the purple and gold, that figure was at $18.3 million. Would anyone be surprised if maintaining, at least, that type of money was a priority?
By contrast, the Lakers managed to land Sandro Mamukelashvili for four years and $52 million. That is a cheaper contact on average than what Hachimura is earning with the Clippers. Mamu was even kind enough to give a second-year dip on his salary, allowing the Lakers financial flexibility for the 2027 offseason.
Mamukelashvili may not have the same highs as a shooter that Hachimura does over the last few years, but there is a heightened feel for the offensive end by comparison. Couple that with added simplicity in negotiations, and breaking up with Rui suddenly became the easy option.
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