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Rui Hachimura Powers Japan Past Saudi Arabia with 29 Points
Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura scored 29 points on 11-for-14 shooting in Japan's 106-78 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday in FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifying. The 28-year-old added four rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block in 28 minutes, going 3-for-4 from deep and 4-for-4 at the line without a turnover. It was his first national team appearance since the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the clean shooting was a strong sign before his first Clippers season. Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million deal with LA in July after averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds with the Lakers last season. He still has to carve out frontcourt minutes around Derrick Jones Jr. and Brook Lopez, but his shooting gives him a path to a useful role if the Clippers lean into spacing-heavy lineups.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Jordan Miller to be Re-Evaluated in Six Months
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Jordan Miller (shoulder) underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left rotator cuff sustained during an offseason workout, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Miller will be re-evaluated in six months, putting his return window around late February or March at the earliest. The 26-year-old re-signed with the Clippers on a three-year, $15.3 million deal in July after averaging a career-best 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 22.1 minutes across 60 games last season. His path had already tightened after the Max Strus trade, and this injury gives Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders a cleaner shot at depth minutes behind Bradley Beal and Strus.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Bennedict Mathurin Lands in New Orleans
Guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that includes a player option, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Mathurin's representatives approached the Los Angeles Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8 million qualifying offer, giving the 24-year-old more flexibility and a quicker path to unrestricted free agency. He averaged a career-best 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 54 games between Indiana and Los Angeles last season, but his 31.5 percent mark from three remains a concern. New Orleans gives him another scoring lane, though Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears all need touches. Mathurin's free-throw volume keeps him interesting, but the jumper has to improve for his fantasy ceiling to climb.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Pelicans Aggressively Pursuing Bennedict Mathurin
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly a major player in the sweepstakes for Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin. According to Jake Fischer, Mathurin is expected to be sign-and-traded to the Pelicans or accept the qualifying offer with the Los Angeles Clippers. Fischer made the point that the Pelicans have been aggressively pursuing Mathurin over the offseason. He currently has a one-year, $8.8 million qualifying offer on the table from the Clippers. Mathurin is a restricted free agent, so the Clippers can match any offer sheet that Mathurin gets from other teams. A return to the Clippers seems to make the most sense, but it sounds like the Pelicans are still looking to acquire him.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Darius Garland Says He Is Back to 100 Percent
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland says he is back to 100 percent after the injury that disrupted his last year in Cleveland and delayed his Clippers start. Speaking with HoopsHype at New Balance's Beantown Elite camp, Garland said the issue began as a bone bruise before worsening into torn ligaments that required reconstruction. He is now excited for a full training camp under Tyronn Lue and said he has discussed borrowing from Kyrie Irving's 2016 Finals role. Garland averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 threes in 2024-25, so a clean offseason makes him a strong bounce-back fantasy target.
Source: Cyro Asseo
Source: Cyro Asseo
Max Strus Traded to the Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are acquiring guard/forward Max Strus in the multi-team deal that sends Peyton Watson to Cleveland, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The veteran wing gives the Clippers another floor spacer after shooting 37.0 percent from three across his NBA career. Strus' 2025-26 regular season was derailed by a left foot Jones fracture, limiting him to 12 games, but he returned for the playoffs and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 threes across 18 contests. He profiles as a useful movement shooter in Los Angeles, though his fantasy value will depend on whether he can carve out enough minutes and shot volume in a crowded rotation.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Yuki Kawamura Joins Japan's Qualifier Squad
Los Angeles Clippers guard Yuki Kawamura was included on Japan's 17-man list for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, joining new Clippers teammate Rui Hachimura ahead of the late-August window. Kawamura signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Los Angeles after playing Summer League with Indiana, so he still has to earn a regular-season roster spot. The 25-year-old averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 assists in 18 games for Chicago last season, then posted 18.7 points and 11.0 assists in 11 G-League games with Windy City. His passing is real, but with a crowded Clippers guard room, Kawamura remains off the fantasy radar.
Source: BasketNews
Source: BasketNews
Rui Hachimura Leads Japan's Qualifier Roster
Los Angeles Clippers forward Rui Hachimura headlines Japan's 17-man list for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, with the late-August window including matchups against Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The national-team run carries no NBA fantasy weight, but his move across Los Angeles does. Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers after averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three last season. He also scored 17.5 points per game on 56.9 percent from deep in the playoffs. A clearer role next to Darius Garland could help his points-and-threes appeal, though his low rebounding keeps the ceiling modest.
Source: BasketNews
Source: BasketNews
Bradley Beal Agrees to Return to Clippers
Free-agent guard Bradley Beal has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $13.2 million contract that includes a player option for the second season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The three-time All-Star heads back to a reshaped Clippers backcourt with James Harden gone, Darius Garland now running the offense, and Kawhi Leonard's pending Toronto trade still unresolved. Beal's first season in Los Angeles fell apart quickly, as he played only six games before season-ending hip surgery and averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists in 20.2 minutes on 37.5 percent shooting. Health is the biggest issue, and a guard mix featuring Garland, Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders, and Keaton Wagler leaves Beal as more of a role-and-recovery watch than a fantasy target.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jalen Pickett Officially Signs Two-Way Deal with Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers officially signed guard Jalen Pickett to a two-way contract Wednesday, completing the deal that Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported last week. Pickett spent his first three NBA seasons with Denver after going 32nd overall in the 2023 draft, but the Nuggets declined his team option earlier this summer. The 26-year-old averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds across 50 games last season, and his near-39 percent three-point shooting remains his best NBA selling point. Two-way status points more to depth than steady rotation minutes, especially with Darius Garland and lottery pick Keaton Wagler ahead of him in the Clippers backcourt. Pickett remains off the fantasy radar unless injuries open a real role.
Source: LA Clippers
Source: LA Clippers
Jamarion Sharp Officially Joins Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers officially signed center Jamarion Sharp to a two-way contract, finalizing the deal after the sides previously agreed to terms in July. The 7-foot-5 rim protector was named the 2025-26 NBA G-League Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 7.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks in 24.9 minutes for the Texas Legends. Sharp went undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2024 and remains limited offensively, but his shot-blocking gives Los Angeles extra frontcourt depth while Yanic Konan Niederhauser works back from Lisfranc surgery. The two-way deal keeps Sharp off the fantasy radar unless injuries force him into real minutes.
Source: LA Clippers
Source: LA Clippers
Yuki Kawamura Lands Exhibit 10 Deal With Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers signed guard Yuki Kawamura to an Exhibit 10 contract, giving him another training camp opportunity after two limited NBA seasons. The 5-foot-8 guard spent last season with the Chicago Bulls, appearing in 18 games while averaging 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 11.6 minutes on 32.7 percent shooting. Kawamura also played for Indiana in the Las Vegas Summer League, including a 12-assist outing against New Orleans. The path to a roster spot remains narrow, as the Clippers already have all three two-way slots filled. Kawamura's passing keeps him interesting for organizational depth, but there is no fantasy value to chase.
Source: LA Clippers
Source: LA Clippers
Clippers Waive Two-Way Guard Sean Pedulla
The Los Angeles Clippers are waiving two-way guard Sean Pedulla, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Pedulla won G-League Rookie of the Year after averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals between the Rip City Remix and San Diego Clippers. He signed with the Clippers in February but logged only 31 NBA minutes, totaling 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting across seven appearances. The move comes after Los Angeles agreed to two-way deals with Jamarion Sharp and Jalen Pickett, while rookie Nick Martinelli is also in the two-way mix. Pedulla's G-League production keeps him on the fringe radar, but he needs a new landing spot and a real rotation path before mattering in fantasy.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Jalen Pickett Lands Two-Way Deal With Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a two-way contract with guard Jalen Pickett, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Pickett spent his first three NBA seasons with Denver after going 32nd in the 2023 draft, but the Nuggets declined his team option earlier this summer. The 26-year-old averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds across 50 games last season, and his career 38.7 percent mark from three remains his best NBA selling point. A two-way deal limits his path behind a Clippers backcourt that includes Darius Garland and lottery pick Keaton Wagler, so Pickett has no redraft value unless injuries open real minutes.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Bulls Could Drop Out of Bennedict Mathurin Sweepstakes
The Chicago Bulls were reportedly interested in signing restricted free agent guard Bennedict Mathurin. Both the Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly shown interest lately, but Chicago might be pulling back. The Bulls are still rebuilding and aren't quite ready to make the financial commitment to a player such as Mathurin. The 24-year-old made $9.2 million this past season and is expected to get a hefty payday this offseason. The Bulls aren't sure where they sit long-term with their current players yet, so it seems unlikely that they'd be willing to sign Mathurin to a massive long-term deal. There is no official word that they're out on Mathurin yet, but he doesn't seem like a great overall fit at the moment.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
