Rui Hachimura was the star of the show in the first-half for the L.A. Clippers on Sunday, but the veteran forward could have easily been on the other side after the Golden State Warriors had interest in him during free agency.
It only took one half for Hachimura to make the Warriors regret missing on him, pouring in 21 points in just 15 minutes as the Clippers built a 55-43 lead over their Western Conference rival in Hawaii.
Rui Hachimura instantly torches Warriors after free agency interest
Hachimura drilled jumper after jumper in an impressive first outing in a Clippers jersey, with the former Los Angeles Lakers forward signing with the cross-town rival during the offseason on a two-year, $28 million contract.
The 28-year-old's 21 points came on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting from the floor and scorching 4-of-5 from 3-point range, while also adding five rebounds and finishing in a +7 during a first-half where both offenses otherwise struggled.
Hachimura was a lead offensive option for the Clippers alongside Darius Garland, suggesting his numbers could spike with the Clippers this season after playing a backseat role behind Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves at the Lakers.
It's not hard to see how his numbers may have rose at the Warriors too, particularly while they remain without injured six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, not to mention there's a cloud hanging over another main offensive option in Kristaps Porzingis who missed training camp and the preseason opener due to illness.
Golden State's offensive issues and rustiness was evident without Butler and Porzingis in the first-half, scoring just 43 points before they fought back in the second-half to eventually fall to a 104-101 defeat.
Warriors ultimately couldn't match Clippers offer for Rui Hachimura
Golden State didn't wind up having access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, with the front office only willing to make the necessary moves to accommodate that if it were for Hachimura's former teammate in James.
The Warriors would've needed to dump Moses Moody and sign Draymond Green to a multi-year deal at a lower annual salary. For as valuable as Hachimura could have been for them, it's a justifiable stance not to have made those moves as Golden State were left to sign De'Anthony Melton to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
It would have been nice if Hachimura was willing to take less to join the Warriors, with the former ninth overall pick quickly proving why Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office were interested in his services.
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