Nicolas Batum’s Farewell and the Philadelphia 76ers’ LossNicolas Batum’s Farewell and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Loss Amidst the hype surrounding free agency and the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers face a significant void: the departure of Nicolas Batum. Acquired via the James Harden trade, Batum became a crucial cog in the 76ers’ system under Nick Nurse. He excelled as a two-way contributor, providing efficient 3-point shooting, versatile defense, and exceptional passing. Despite his modest point total, Batum’s impact was undeniable, serving as a seamless complement to Joel Embiid. His absence creates a substantial gap on both ends of the court. Reports indicate that the 76ers were keen on retaining Batum, but the veteran forward ultimately chose to return to Los Angeles and reunite with his former coach, Ty Lue. The Clippers offered Batum a two-year, $9.6 million contract, a slightly higher amount than Philadelphia’s alleged $8 million per year offer. Batum’s departure highlights the 76ers’ failure to secure a suitable replacement. Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond, while solid additions, lack the multifaceted skillset that Batum brought to the table. Furthermore, Batum’s departure has potential implications for the team’s chemistry. His close relationship with Paul George, who he played with in Los Angeles, could have played a significant role in George’s decision to sign with Philadelphia. While the 76ers remain optimistic about their roster, Batum’s presence would have undoubtedly strengthened their championship aspirations. The trade deadline presents a potential opportunity to rectify this situation, but the Clippers may be reluctant to part ways with a player who has proven to be invaluable to their system. Therefore, as the 76ers prepare for the upcoming season, they will carry the bittersweet memory of Nicolas Batum, a player who provided invaluable versatility and a winning mentality that will be sorely missed.
When the final list of free agents is released, it’s hard to imagine the Philadelphia 76ers won’t be among the stars of the NBA.
They signed the biggest free agent on the market in Paul George, giving the podcast pairing forward a four-year, $212 million contract. They bolstered their roster with familiar faces like Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond, and even pulled off wins against the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat by landing Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin for contracts worth less per year than their 2024-25 player options.
And yet, while fans are excited about free agency, the draft – Jared McCain, Adem Bona and Justin Edwards all appear to be players – and the future, there is one player the 76ers will miss dearly heading into the fall, as they still haven’t found a way to replace him: Nicholas Batum.
After initially landing in Philadelphia as a throw-in as part of the James Harden trade, Batum played some of the best ball of his career for Nick Nurse last fall, establishing himself as a two-way contributor, a connecting passer and an entry pass servant, basically everything a team wants around an all-world paint presence like Joel Embiid. He hit just under 40 percent of his 3s, pulled down 4.2 rebounds per game and, despite a meager 5.5 points per game, was easily one of Philly’s most important players, even if that wasn’t the expectation when he was acquired.
While it is impossible to say how much Philly offered the French forward in free agency, one has to imagine that it was around $8 million per year that Oubre got. Batum eventually decided to return to LA and sign his favorite coach Ty Lue, with whom he has a very special relationship, for a period of two years and $9.6 million.
Should Philly have fought harder for Batum? Yes, he was a perfect fit next to Embiid and would absolutely be a top-8 player on this team even if they made the same other moves. Add to that his relationship with PG, who he played with in LA, and Batum’s presence will certainly be missed this fall.
*sigh* oh well, I guess there’s always the trade deadline, where Batum could be forced to return to Philly if the Clippers decide he’s no longer a core part of their roster.
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For Nicolas Batum, leaving the 76ers was a personal event
Speaking to reporters about his free agency as part of his availability as a media player for the French Olympic team, Batum revealed that despite interest from more than half of the federation, he decided to return to LA and Lue, even though that team had traded him last fall.
“It’s definitely a comeback,” Nicolas Batum said via HoopsHype. “I had options, a lot of options — 17 to be exact. That’s good. I’m going to be working with Ty Lue again on a project that I really like. That’s good.”
For those unaware, Batum and Lue don’t have the usual dynamic. In 2022, the French forward explained his unique bond with the championship-winning head coach, saying he didn’t know if he would still be in the NBA if the Clippers didn’t give him a chance after a failed stint in Charlotte.
“(The Clippers) gave me another chance in this league to compete and be a basketball player, so I think this is my way of saying thank you. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win games and do something special. Even on the best day of my life,” Batum told reporters, via Sports Illustrated.
“Ty Lue saved my life, so I’m going to stick with T-Lue unless they throw me out. He saved my career.”
After initially signing a four-year, $46 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, Batum was traded to Charlotte in 2015 and signed a massive new five-year, $120 million deal to become a centerpiece for the Hornets going forward. And yet, as the team slowly stopped taking the fight seriously, Batum fell out of favor and was cut from the team in November 2020. Batum signed with the Clippers as a free agent, found a home with Lue, and eventually re-signed with the team multiple times before being traded to Philly last fall.
Only time will tell how this current run will play out, as he may have to leave again in a few weeks, but for now he’s happy to be back in LA for another run with Lue. And the feeling appears to be mutual, as the Clippers had plenty of other options to spend their money on and still went with Batum.
