In the suspense of offseason free agency, one of the LA Clippers’ wisest moves seemed to be reuniting with the two-way wing Nicolas Batum. In his first three seasons with the Clippers, Batum became a fan favorite in Los Angeles. He would consistently drain three-pointers, lock up any position, and bring a fearless mentality that was engraved inside the locker room.
Unexpectedly, Batum was traded to the 76ers in a deal that included former MVP James Harden. The front office made it clear they did not want to move on from the French wing, but it was a business decision to land an all-time great.
In Philadelphia, Batum recorded some extravagant performances. Overall, he averaged 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting nearly 40% from three in 57 games. Although these numbers are solid for a veteran contributor, they do not demonstrate how impactful he was on the court.
Furthermore, Batum would take the assignment of guarding numerous stars while sprinting to the other end and making a play. Whether it was a deflection, rebound, or hockey assist, the 2008 first-round pick demonstrated he was a winning player.
In the summer, the Clippers evaluated his tape in Philadelphia and quickly took away how his game would benefit the current roster. On July 10th, 2024, executive Lawrence Frank announced the team had reconnected with the 16-year veteran.
Months into the following season, Batum has underperformed in a role of minimal responsibilities. The script had all of a sudden flipped, as the reality was different from what they expected in early July.
The Clippers should look to move Nicolas Batum before time expires.
At age 36, fans hoped Nicolas Batum would conclude his career on the LA Clippers. Despite his age, Batum has a high IQ and understands how to star in his role for head coach Tyronn Lue.
Though he has made plays, Batum is averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds on a field goal percentage of 39.3. This is concerning, as he seems to be losing his abilities in the 17th year of his career.
Conversely, the Clippers made it easy for themselves to move on from Batum by signing him to a two-year, $9.6 million deal.
On the contrary, there will be multiple teams around the NBA who will be interested in Batum. Regardless of age, he brings experience, which could be the x-factor in younger locker rooms looking to rebuild.
That said, the front office must call around the league and test Batum's value on the trade market. If the Clippers receive a package that helps, they should accept it and move on before he becomes unplayable near the playoffs.