As expected, free agent forward Nicolas Batum will sign a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the Clippers, according to multiple sources on the first day of NBA free agency.
The deal includes a team option as well as a trade kicker. His contract is the maximum he can receive with his non-Bird rights.
Batum opted out of his $4.9 million player option over the weekend, making him a free agent, but the versatile 36-year-old had expressed his desire to stay with the Clippers at the end of last season. He credits Coach Tyronn Lue for “saving his career” after finding out through social media that he had been waived by the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. Batum had been sidelined for much of that season because of injuries.
The 6-foot-10 Batum has said he thought his career was over at that point. Then Lue invited Batum to come to Los Angeles, where he played for three seasons before being sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade that brought James Harden to the Clippers in 2023.
Now heading into his 18th season in the NBA, the two-time Olympic silver medalist has previously said that this upcoming season will likely be his last.
The Clippers still have tax and apron flexibility to use the full mid-level exception or make a big trade.
Batum’s deal comes one day after James Harden declined his player option. Harden is expected to sign a two-year, $81.5 million deal to stay with the Clippers.
