LA Clippers ahead Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million participant possibility for the 2025-26 season to turn into a free agent, sources instructed ESPN on Saturday.
There’s mutual curiosity between the NBA veteran and the Clippers in a brand new deal collectively, sources mentioned. The Clippers are allowed to start out Batum’s subsequent contract at $5.6 million (120% of his 2024-25 wage) or use a few of their $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, based on ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Now heading into his 18th yr within the NBA, Batum has already mentioned there’s a “very, excellent probability” that this upcoming season will likely be his final.
The 36-year-old French ahead performed lower than 18 minutes per recreation for the Clippers final season however made 78 appearances with eight begins. He stays defender at 6-foot-10 and areas the courtroom with a quick-trigger 3-point shot.
Batum’s versatility shined within the Clippers’ first-round sequence loss to the Denver Nuggets. He shot almost 40% on 4.7 3s per recreation within the postseason to go together with 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank mentioned forward of the offseason that the workforce “1,000 p.c” hopes Batum returns in 2025-26.
Batum has spent a lot of the previous 5 seasons with the Clippers after lengthy stints with the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets. He is a two-time Olympic silver medalist as a part of the French nationwide workforce.