LA Clippers ahead Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season to develop into a free agent, sources advised ESPN on Saturday.
There’s mutual curiosity between the NBA veteran and the Clippers in a brand new deal collectively, sources stated. The Clippers are allowed to begin 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, in keeping with ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
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 almost 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 p.c” hopes Batum returns subsequent yr.
Batum has spent many of the previous 5 seasons with the Clippers after lengthy stints with the Portland Path Blazers and Charlotte Hornets. He is a two-time Olympic silver medalist as a part of the French nationwide crew.