LA Clippers
Nicolas Batum
It’s bold to predict that a 12-year NBA vet will have a breakout season, but I think Nicolas Batum is primed to do just that. The Clippers might have lost Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green but struck it big by replacing those minutes with Serge Ibaka and the savvy, cheaper, and hopefully renewed Nick Batum.
People forget there was a point in time where Nicolas Batum was arguably one of the 30 best players in the league. During his peak seasons with Portland from 2011 to 2014, Batum averaged 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal per game. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades: a long rangy defender that could hit the three, he could take the ball up the court, and defend multiple positions. Batum ended up signing that big lofty contract with the Charlotte Hornets and, due to injuries and inconsistent play, never lived up to that contract’s value.
But the Clippers won’t be asking Batum to play 30 minutes a night against the best of the West – he’ll be asked to play 10-20 minutes and mostly against second units. Batum may not be the star that Charlotte paid for, but Batum is still a highly productive starter-level player that should thrive in a comfortable bench role.
Assuming the Frenchman can remain healthy, the Nicolas Batum-Lou Williams bench combination should chop up other second units with ease. And if he can get back to similar shooting and efficiency numbers from his Portland days, Batum may truly elevate the Clippers to championship frontrunner status.