Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Nic Batum
After being bought out by the Hornets in 2021, 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 showed that he can still be a solid rotational wing, and at times a solid starter and someone that can still be in a closing five. He continued that level of play in '23-'24 after being traded to Philadelphia. Batum has hit 40% from three over the last four seasons, and on over 60% true shooting. He provided some additional play-making for a Clippers team that had an overall lack of passing, and di the same for the 76ers. His high-quality entry passes are an underrated aspect of his game. He hardly gets to the rim anymore, as 80% and 70% of his shots in '22-'23 and '23-'24, respectively. were 3-pointers, which might be best at this stage of his career, though it does make him more one-dimensional on offense. Batum also fit in well with the Clippers defensive scheme in the past, as he, Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George were all big wings that could guard multiple positions. He has good instincts on defense and gets blocks and steals at a high rate. He also rebounds well on both ends of the court. 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 36 years old as a free agent in 2025, so we could start to see some really regression soon.
Summary
Batum has a $4.9 million player option for 2025-2026, and if he opts out he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $5.6 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 $5.6 million. If that is not enough, the Clippers could use cap space or their Room MLE (if they operate under the cap), or their Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (if available) to re-sign Batum if he demands more than $5.6 million. Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Batum as even teams without cap space could possibly use the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Room MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. It's unlikely he would sign for less than his $4.9 million player option though, unless he's willing to accep the minimum of $3.6 million to join a specific contender.
Cap Considerations
Eric Gordon (1+1 year minimum, 2024) Simone Fontecchio (2 years, $16 million, 2024) Kyle Anderson (3 years $27 million, 2024)