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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
After being bought out by the Hornets, there was a lot of doubt whether Batum had anything left in the tank, as his last couple years in Charlotte suggested that he was done as a meaningful contributor. However, after signing with the Clippers Batum has shown that he can still be a solid starting wing. Batum started some games in the early parts of the season, and although he later came off the bench, he started again in the playoffs when the Clippers went to their small lineup.
He hit 41% from three, and his eFG% of 59.9% was near the top of the league for his position. He provided some additional play-making for a Clippers team that has an overall lack in passing. Batum also fit in well with the Clippers defensive scheme, as he, Marcus Morris, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George are all big wings that can guard multiple positions.
Batum isn't the athlete he was in his prime, and if his shooting falls back down to earth he could lose a lot of his value on offense. He'll be 32 years old this summer as a free agent, so I don't expect any huge long-term offers, but based on how he's played in the playoffs, he could certainly see some offers that will make it tempting to leave the Clippers.
Cap Considerations
Batum will be an unrestricted free agent with a $1.7 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. This means that the highest starting salary the Clippers could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is $3.2 million. Alternatively, the Clippers could use their Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual Exception to re-sign Batum if he demands more than $3.2 million. However, Batum may even get offers bigger than that based on how well he has played in the playoffs. If the Clippers re-sign Batum on a one-year deal, they would have his Early Bird Rights in 2022 and be able to give him a bigger contract.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Batum as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. However, in order to pull him away from the L.A., it'll likely take an offer significantly greater than what the Clippers can offer him.
Potential Teams: Clippers, Jazz, Trailblazers, Suns, 76ers
Predicted Contract: 1-year, $3.2 million with the Clippers
Actual Contract: 2-year, $6.5 million (player option) with the Clippers
I predicted correctly that Batum would return to the Clippers on a one-year deal at his full Non-Bird amount, but I should have known that if he was going to take a discount like that he would also get a second year player option to mitigate his risk.
Last updated: 8/16/2021
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