The Clippers have not even gotten Rui Hachimura on the floor yet, and already one of their biggest roster calls is staring them in the face: does he fit better with the starters or as the first lift off the bench?
That question matters because Hachimura arrives as the club’s most significant free-agent addition so far, and the Clippers already know exactly what he can do. He has spent multiple matchups punishing LA, which is a big reason fans are eager to see him in red, white, and blue. But before he takes a single snap under Tyronn Lue, the team has to sort out where his game fits best.
There’s no mystery about Hachimura’s strengths. He can knock down threes, work the mid-range, attack the rim, and he’s coachable. The issue is just as clear: rebounding and defense remain real concerns.
That makes the role decision a lot less simple than it first appears.
On paper, starting him would make sense. Hachimura is coming off a strong season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he averaged 11.5 points in 68 regular-season games. He also showed he can level up in the playoffs, putting up nearly 18 points per game in 10 postseason contests while posting a 69.0% true shooting mark as the four-man in Los Angeles.
At six-foot-eight and 230 pounds, he has the frame to handle starting power forward duties. But the fit gets shaky when the conversation turns to what he does - and doesn’t - bring on the defensive end and on the boards.
That’s where the bench case gets stronger. Hachimura’s shortcomings in those areas make him a questionable match alongside Brook Lopez and Darius Garland, two of the five sure starters for the Clippers at the moment. By contrast, the second unit could use exactly what he offers.
There’s even a path to bigger individual recognition if Bennedict Mathurin does not end up returning to the Clippers. In that scenario, Hachimura could find himself in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year.
For LA, that makes the decision look pretty straightforward: Hachimura off the bench could help the rotation more, give him the kind of role he may want, and maybe even put him in position for the spotlight he has been chasing.
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