By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season to become a free agent, according to ESPN; however, he is expected to remain a member of the team.
The Clippers are allowed to start Batum’s next contract at $5.6 million (120% of his 2024-25 salary) or use some of their $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Batum has already played 17 seasons in the NBA, and he has hinted that the next one will be his last. He has already retired from the French national team after the Paris Olympics.
The 36-year-old French forward played less than 18 minutes per game for the Clippers last season but made 78 appearances with eight starts.
Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said ahead of the offseason that the team “1,000 percent” hopes Batum returns in the 2025-26 season.