LA Clippers: The argument for Nicolas Batum to continue starting

Nicolas Batum continuing to start for the LA Clippers makes sense.

Nicolas Batum was the type of signing that no one really cared about. When the LA Clippers picked up the French forward, many thought he might be servicable off the bench but not offer much more value than the veteran minimum he was acquired for.

Seven games into the season, that tune has changed. Batum has been thrust into the starting four spot with Marcus Morris missing time as he deals with lingering knee soreness. His return is imminent, however, but many are wondering if he will get his starting spot back or if the team is best served keeping Batum with the starters.

Despite giving Morris a new $64 million contract this offseason, the starting spot belonging to Batum makes sense.

In an albeit small sample size, the Clippers’ starting lineup has a net rating of 33.7, the best of any five man unit who has played more than 50 minutes together. That’s nothing to scoff at, especially considering that the Dallas Mavericks loss is still heavily skewing the stats in a negative fashion.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

Last season for the Clippers was marred with consistency issues with players moving in and out of lineups. Moving Batum now, in theory, could cause ripples that affect the entire roster. Keeping him in the starting forward position puts less pressure on the stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, to adapt after already trying to adapt to a new offense.

Batum has thrived in the role, making well-timed backdoor cuts, hitting timely threes, and adding another layer of playmaking to the starting unit while not taking any consequential shots away from the two stars. He has also taken on opponents biggest defensive assignments, allowing Leonard and George to focus more on the offensive end.

It’s not that Batum is a better player than Morris. It’s all about fit. This isn’t to say that Morris doesn’t fit with the starters either because he definitely does. It’s that Batum might fit better with the starters while Morris helps the second unit.

Morris helps a second unit that, outside of Ivica Zubac, lacks defense. He could come off the bench and offer another round of defense and energy that this team doesn’t quite have yet.

Offensively, Morris could be the guy for the second unit, generating his own shot while defenders scramble to keep track of Lou Williams and Luke Kennard. If Lou is traded which seems to be the prevailing hypothetical trade for this team, Morris would have even more of a prominent role. Bringing him off the bench would also mean that while Kawhi and PG are staggered, the Clippers have a fresh scoring forward on the court at all times.

Of course, no matter which direction Ty Lue and the Clippers’ staff choose to go, the team will be better off. Morris is a quality player and having him back in the rotation in any capacity will just add to the Clippers already high ceiling. Batum has thrived though and I think that at least warrants the thought of keeping him where he is.