NBA Rumors: Nicolas Batum wants to stay with Hornets
By John Buhler
Nicolas Batum is coming off his best season in the NBA with the 2015-16 Charlotte Hornets and would very much like to stay in the Queen City in 2016-17.
The Charlotte Hornets may have lost a brutal Game 7 in their first round series with the Southeast Division rival Miami Heat, but the Hornets put together a fine 48-win season in 2015-16 nonetheless. While Charlotte will have its work cut out for it in 2016 NBA free agency, it seems that their top target to retain this summer in wing Nicolas Batum wants to stay with the Hornets going forward.
According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, during the Hornets’ exit interviews Batum was both disappointed that his team wasn’t playing the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and seemed to understand that he played his best NBA season with the 2015-16 Hornets.
Batum told Bonnell, “We should be playing tomorrow and we’re pretty mad about that. So this is unfinished business. It was a pretty cool year. First time I got to play like I want to in eight years in the NBA.”
Before coming to Charlotte last free agency period, Batum struggled mightily as the fifth starter for the 2014-15 Portland Trail Blazers. That Portland offense ran through point guard Damian Lillard and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Wing Wesley Matthews had a career year before rupturing his Achilles’. Center Robin Lopez brought great defensive tenacity, albeit clunky spacing offensively.
Batum would at times carry the Hornets’ offense on head coach Steve Clifford’s defense-first basketball team. In 2015-16, Batum did average a career-best 14.9 points per game and shot 34.8% from three-point land.
It would make sense for Batum to want to re-up with the Hornets, but his status as a premier three-and-d wing in 2016 NBA free agency will almost certainly make him a player worth a maximum contract. Since Batum is coming off his first year with the Hornets, Charlotte doesn’t own his Bird Rights, meaning they can’t offer him more money and that extra year in the deal.
Keep in mind that the Hornets also have several other key pieces hitting free agency this summer including center Al Jefferson, point guard Jeremy Lin, small forward Marvin Williams, and wing Courtney Lee.
Batum may want to stay with Clifford’s Hornets in 2016-17, but if he does command a maximum contract, he might have played himself out of Charlotte. Do expect the Hornets front office to do their best to keep their best three-point shooter in town for next season.
For more 2016 NBA free agency coverage, please check out our NBA free agency hub page.