Nicolas Batum seems pretty excited about hitting the NBA’s free agent market this summer.
This is not to say he’s plotting his escape from the Charlotte Hornets, who acquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers over the summer, presumably with every intention of investing in him long term. But that investment is going to cost them a lot of money, and from what Batum told CBS Sports’ Matt Moore, that’s pretty much by design:
“Free agency is always exciting for an NBA player’s career,” Batum says, “and you can see where you are, and where you stand among the other players. It’s an opportunity to judge yourself against the other players, and what you’re worth in this league.”
It’s no wonder Batum finds the prospect of NBA free agency exciting. It’s easy to enjoy the thrills of a contract year when, like Batum, you’ve unexpectedly thrust yourself into the max-contract discussion.
Max-contract discussion?
Max-contract discussion.
Four players over the last 10 years have maintained averages of 16 points, six rebounds and five assists per 36 minutes with an effective field-goal percentage—measurement of two- and three-point efficiency—of 50 or better, according to Basketball-Reference. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Their names are Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, LeBron James and Paul Piece.
Batum is set to become the fifth member of that party. So don’t be surprised when he seeks a max deal this July, because he’s bound to land something close to it, if not actually get it.
