The time for the LA Clippers to make a decision on Nicolas Batum, who has a team option this summer, is approaching, and if he's down to finish out his contract, the front office should not hesitate to hit the accept button. He is still a defensive specialist with experience, and given the Clippers are likely to get a bit younger over the offseason, Batum's qualities are of extreme value.
Essentially, the only argument to make Batum a free agent is his age, which is fair, as he's going to turn 38 years old next season. But with all that he brings to the table, and everything he's done for the franchise since arriving, isn't he worth keeping around?
There are a number of reasons why the Clippers must hold on to Batum
When the former Portland Trail Blazer and Charlotte Hornet (among others) signed for a two-year deal with the LA Clippers in the summer of 2025—the same franchise that gave him a second life in the NBA—it was clear that the team option on the second year of the contract would prompt a discussion about his role, depending on the state of the roster in 2026. And the current picture shows that in LA, a rebuild is underway, with young guys who can already hunt for a playoff spot.
So, to gain some flexibility on the market, the Clippers must decide what to do with the players on team options: Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders, Brook Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Nicolas Batum.
The first two, Miller ($2.4 million) and Sanders ($2.2 million), are essentially locks. Beyond that, Brook Lopez ($9.1 million), even if 38 years old, proved to be still useful during last season with protection and floor spacing the Clippers most likely want to keep.
The discussion then comes down to Bogdanovic and Batum, both near the end of their career. A bit surprisingly, Bogdanovic wasn't traded at the deadline, but his $16 million option seems too expensive to exercise.
So, now, we get to the Batum point; He's not the player that once was, and in the play-in game, he was out of the nine-man rotation. His numbers lessened from the previous season in nearly all the major statistical categories: rebounds (2.5 compared to 2.8), assists (0.9 compared to 1.1), blocks (0.3 compared to 0.5), steals (0.6 compared to 0.7), field goal percentage (40.3% compared to 43.7%), with the same 4 points a game. His defensive impact has also diminished. Seems easy to let him walk.
On the flipside, the approach should be different: what can he still offer as a player?
He has no problem remaining on the court for a decent amount of time (he averaged 17.5 minutes per game last season, playing in 74 games), showing that age and injuries have not drastically limited his availability or workload. Also, while he is no longer the versatile ace he was in his prime, he can still guard multiple positions on defense. Most of all, he can be a guide for the new breed.
As a veteran presence in the locker room and someone who has faced many different situations during his career, his experience can serve as a mentor for the young guys, teaching some of the secrets of his game for lasting at the highest level of basketball.
How much is all this worth? Maybe he can take less money out of the cap space (declining his option and bringing him back on a smaller contract), but for a team searching for a new identity and balance, a player like Batum should be more than welcome. In fact, letting him walk away for a little saving could be a costly mistake.
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