NBA Free Agency: Nicolas Batum eager to return to Hornets
By Tom West
Ready to hit the market in 2016 NBA free agency, Nicolas Batum is eager to return to the Charlotte Hornets to deal with some ‘unfinished business’.
The Charlotte Hornets made an excellent acquisition with the signing of Nicolas Batum last summer. Along with every other Trail Blazers starter bar Damian Lillard, Batum left Portland to seek a new role elsewhere, and he found a great fit in Charlotte. But after he joined on a one-year, $12.2 million deal, the Hornets will have to come to terms with Batum again when 2016 NBA free agency hits this summer.
Thankfully for the team and their fans, it doesn’t sound like they’ll find it very difficult to bring Batum back.
“We should be playing tomorrow (in the Eastern Conference semifinals) and we’re pretty mad about that,” Batum said to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer when discussing the Hornets’ 106-73 Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat. It ended their playoff run on a heartbreaking note. They went down 0-2 at the start of the series before they won three straight to turn the tide and go up 3-1, eventually faltering again as the Heat won two games to close the series.
“So this is unfinished business,” Batum added.
Despite their tough playoff exit, he had so much praise for the Hornets organization and his role as a key offensive piece.
“When I came here they let me know they wanted me to be one of the (top) two options with Kemba [Walker],” Batum said. “I liked that. I like that they trusted me… It was a pretty cool year. First time I got to play like I want to in eight years in the NBA.”
When Batum was asked what’s appealing about the Hornets to him, he cited everything from the coaching staff and the players to the city itself as reasons why he wants to make Charlotte his “first call” in free agency.
The Hornets will be thoroughly pleased to hear that, as Batum’s versatility and overall impact was on full display this season with averages of 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game and a 34.8 percent three-point stroke. He’s a great catch-and-shoot option for them, and while he shot slightly below his career average from deep, he’s still a threat from that range and shoots with impressive efficiency from inside the arc, too.
As for his defense, his length at 6’8″ and ability to cover multiple positions at the perimeter is an asset that the Hornets will always appreciate.
Batum won’t come cheap, though. He was already making $12.2 million in 2015-16, and as the salary cap soars to $90 million for 2016-17, a wing with such playmaking ability and solid defense can expect a pay rise and sizeable offers from multiple teams.
If the Hornets are able to attract some notable free agents after exceeding expectations and almost making the second round of the NBA playoffs this season, they should be able to come back even stronger in 2016-17 with Nicolas Batum onboard.
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