Charlotte Hornets swingman Nicolas Batum has a few apologies to hand out, but not without an admission to make first.
“This franchise has got a bright future,” Batum told Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer, “but I don’t think I’ll be part of it.”
Batum's contract has been one the Hornets have almost instantly regretted since signing him to a five-year, $120 million deal, one that now looks like a highway robbery if it had to be justified by his production.
The Frenchman's five-year deal is considered to be one of the worst albatross contracts of that wild-spending summer of 2016, one that came on the heels of a career-best 2015-16 season where he averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.
Since, his effectiveness has dipped greatly, going from a capable all-around contributor to a role player well behind his prime.
Perhaps Batum peaked early, and who can blame him if a check is laid in front of him with that many zeroes — yet there is still part of the 31-year-old that feels badly for not being able to provide what he was paid to give this franchise.
“I apologize to the people here,” Batum said, “because they put so much faith in me. And it didn’t go well…. It didn’t work out. But what do I have to do? Because I’m still here.”
The last two seasons have been nightmarish for Batum. It was evident from the start of 2019-20 that he would soon take a back seat to the young blood in this team, ultimately ceding his spot to rookie PJ Washington upon an avulsion fracture on the third finger of his left hand. He's started only three games this season and played in only 22, despite being the Hornets' highest-paid player.
“I don’t want to be an a**hole,” said Batum. “I don’t want to be selfish … I don’t want to be that guy who’s like, ‘OK, let’s go out tonight. Coach sucks. Don’t show up. You shoot 25 times a game; don’t listen to him.’ No. I won’t do that. I don’t need that. They don’t need that.”
Batum could be that a**hole and opt into the final $27.1 million of his contract — after all, it was the franchise who signed him to those terms — but he is likely to try to negotiate a buyout with the team to part ways after this season.
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