Following their most successful season in franchise history, the LA Clippers wanted to bring the band back together for the 2021-22 season. Serge Ibaka opted into the second year of his deal a few days ago, and a few hours into free agency, Nicolas Batum has also agreed to return.
According to Sham Charania of The Athletic, Batum has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Clippers.
Free agent Nicolas Batum has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021
Additionally, LA Times' Andrew Greif reports that Batum's deal is not for the $5.9 million mid-level exception.
Source tells @latimessports that Nico Batum's deal is non-Bird. So the Clippers still have their $5.9M taxpayer MLE to use. https://t.co/0mCgtFOsrl
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) August 3, 2021
That means the Clippers will now have the full MLE available to sign another free agent this offseason. They're also still awaiting a commitment from guard Reggie Jackson, someone they have strong interests in retaining this offseason.
Clippers fans embraced Nicolas Batum unlike any franchise he played for previously, with fans creating the ‘Batum Battalion' as his fanbase. At the end of the season, Batum said he appreciated how those fans welcomed him in with open arms and that they'll definitely play a part in his free agency decision.
“The Batum Battalion, I didn't expect that,” Batum said. “That was pretty cool… The way they welcomed me and my family, that was great. I can't thank them enough. It was a special year for me.”
"Of course. The Batum Battalion, I didn't expect that. That was pretty cool… The way they welcomed me and my family, that was great. I can't thank them enough. It was a special year for me."
Nicolas Batum on bond with Clippers fans affecting his free agency decision. pic.twitter.com/fcdKZytBq9
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) July 1, 2021
After the agreement was made public, Batum's wife Lily took to Twitter to celebrate with the fans that have grown to love her as well over the last few years.
https://twitter.com/LilyBatum/status/1422360463430594562
Nicolas Batum averaged 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal per game for the Clippers while shooting 40.4 percent from beyond the arc. The bounce-back year from Batum was even more impressive when head coach Tyronn Lue inserted him into the starting lineup to play the small-ball center against the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns.
More to come…
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