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BREAKING: LA Clippers Bring Back Former Player in Free Agency
When the LA Clippers acquired James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, they parted ways with Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, and KJ Martin. This significantly depleted LA's forward depth, and it was something that hindered them throughout the season.
After being signed by the Clippers following a failed stint with the Charlotte Hornets, Batum revived his career and never planned to leave LA. The Clippers did not want to include him in the Harden deal, but ultimately had to.
In a report on Monday from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, it was announced that Batum had reached a free agency agreement with the Clippers for two years, $9.6M.
Free agent F Nic Batum has agreed on a two-year, $9.6 million deal to join the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UPSxcBt4eX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Batum will rejoin the Clippers where he is expected to be featured as a key wing off their bench. It would also not be surprising to see Batum start games at times, as he already has a level of chemistry with several Clippers players.
This leaves just Covington, Morris, and Martin as the players no longer with LA after the Harden deal. During a recent episode of Podcast P, new 76ers forward Paul George expressed how difficult it was for him last season taking on an increased responsibility to do the "dirty work" after LA lost Batum and Covington in the Harden deal.
Paul George says losing Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum really hurt the Clippers:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) June 19, 2024
“We started the year off hot. Everybody was playing well, there was the energy there. It was kinda like the first time of us all being healthy with Russ now. It was the emergence of what it’s… pic.twitter.com/XzTdYkx0J3
The Clippers now get Batum back after losing George to the 76ers in free agency.
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JOEY LINN
Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.