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Nicolas Batum has elected to exercise his $27.1 million participant option from the Charlotte Hornets for the 2020-21 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
That option caps off a 5-three hundred and sixty five days, $120 million deal signed with the Hornets in 2016.
The 31-three hundred and sixty five days-old averaged 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 2019-20.
He has executed his entire 12-three hundred and sixty five days career with the Portland Droop Blazers and Hornets and arrived in Charlotte after a 2015 offseason commerce for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh.
Batum brings a minute of the entirety to the mix. At his only, he’s a stat-sheet stuffer who can net, rebound, dish and play factual protection. For his career, he averages 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Per Basketball Reference, he never had a detrimental box plus/minus until 2019-20.
On the synthetic hand, his struggles on the offensive discontinue resulted in a career-low 34.6 percent from the subject (28.6 percent from three-level vary) in 2019-20. Batum furthermore had a career-low 9.2 participant effectivity rating.
The news is in any case moderately surprising although Batum seemingly wouldn’t be getting $27.1 million in other locations after a rough 2019-20 season that one plan or the other saw him permanently benched.
Batum appeared resigned to leaving Charlotte in an early March interview with Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer.
“I declare regret to the folk here,” he stated. “Because they put so powerful faith in me. And it didn’t paddle properly. … It didn’t work out. Nevertheless what carry out I in fact desire to withhold out? Because I’m unexcited here.”
He furthermore added, “This franchise has got a sparkling future, nevertheless I assemble now now not mediate I is known as a part of it.“
A unique initiate in other locations is seemingly to be what Batum wants. He doesn’t in actuality fit on a young, rebuilding Hornets crew searching to initiate a brand unique period after the departure of franchise star Kemba Walker final offseason. Nevertheless for now, he’s signed with the Hornets for one extra three hundred and sixty five days as Charlotte seems to come to the playoffs for the fundamental time since 2015-16.
