Free agent ahead Nicolas Batum intends to signal a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the LA Clippers, sources advised ESPN.
The deal features a crew choice in addition to a commerce kicker. Batum’s agent, Bouna Ndiaye of Comsport, negotiated the contract for the reunion.
Batum opted out of his $4.9 million participant choice earlier this summer season, making him a free agent.
Now heading into his 18th yr within the NBA, Batum has already stated there’s a “very, superb probability” that this upcoming season will likely be his final.
The 36-year-old French ahead performed lower than 18 minutes per sport for the Clippers final season however made 78 appearances with eight begins. He stays an excellent 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 practically 40% on 4.7 3s per sport within the postseason to associate with 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank stated forward of the offseason that the crew “1,000 %” hopes Batum returns subsequent yr.
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 crew.