LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) is unclear where he want to play next. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Clippers forward Nicolas Batum to decline player option, become free agent

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/21/22

Nicolas Batum will begin his 15th NBA season in the fall. Where he plays is not exactly clear as of Tuesday morning.

Clippers F Nic Batum will decline his $3.3M player option and become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. There’s expected to be mutual interest with Clippers and Batum on reaching a new deal in July.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2022

Batum has early bird rights and the Clippers can sign him to a contract up to $10.9M.

A new contract has to be for a minimum of 2 years and cannot include (if signed with early bird rights) a player option after year 1.

He is also earning $8.9M from Charlotte in 2022/23. https://t.co/V1mcP3lcTr
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 21, 2022

If Batum returns to the Clippers, it would be his third season in Los Angeles. His 8.3 points per game were his highest in three years, but his 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest were his lowest in over one decade.

Whichever roster Batum ends up with for the 2022-2023 campaign, he will offer strong outside shooting (career 36.3 percent three-point field goal percentage) and plenty of playoff experience (58 postseason games).

Other Clippers' unrestricted free agents this summer include Rodney Hood and Isaiah Hartenstein, while the team also has a host of restricted free agents including Amir Coffey, Moses Wright, Xavier Moon and Jay Scrubb.

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