The leadership of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Charlotte Hornets has decided to abandon 31-year-old striker Nikolas Batums, the club reports. The 31-year-old basketball player will soon leave the team, while his remaining contract pay will be stretched over three seasons.
OFFICIAL: We have waived forward Nicolas Batum.
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— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 29, 2020
According to The Athletic viewer Shams Sharan, the Los Angeles Clippers are interested in getting an experienced French striker under their auspices. According to sources close to the situation, the Clippers are seriously interested in signing Batuma when he becomes a free agent next week.
Multiple contenders made plans to pursue Batum once the Hornets made clear he could be waived. The Clippers are set to receive the versatile veteran forward. https://t.co/gohCOCFsJW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 29, 2020
It has already been reported that the Hornets previously placed Batuma on the list of vulnerable players in order to free up space for Hayward. Batuma still had a one-season contract with the Hornets for $ 27 million, which Charlotte will have to pay the player in any case.
Now it will not be a single payment, but three divided into equal parts, and in this case they are “stretched” for the next three seasons, which may prevent the Hornets from signing contracts with new basketball players. The Hornets will therefore pay Batuma $ 9 million in each of the next three seasons (including this one), and this amount will take its place in Charlotte’s salary resources until 2023.
Nicholas spent five seasons in the Honets team. As you know, Batum has averaged 9.3 and 3.6 points each in the last two seasons, which did not fully live up to their expectations, as the Frenchman received $ 24 and $ 25.6 million in those seasons.
