Nic Batum was a part of the commerce that despatched James Harden to the L.A. Clippers earlier this season. The veteran wing was in his fourth season with the franchise. Nonetheless, Batum’s $11M wage was a core a part of the salary-matching within the bundle to accumulate the previous MVP.
The Clippers at present sit fourth within the Western Convention with a 44-25 report. Harden has obtained important reward all through the season as he has flashed his upside as each a scorer and a playmaker. However Batum believes Kawhi Leonard’s return to health has been the largest swing issue for Ty Lue’s workforce.
“They moved on for an excellent participant and I perceive the enterprise aspect as a result of I am only a function participant,” Batum told ClutchPoints’ Tom Azarly. “He is a really, superb participant. He introduced one thing completely different for certain, however they’re superb this yr as a result of Kawhi is again to the place he was. I feel that is what made that match so good. He’s again to Kawhi. And when Kawhi is Kawhi, whoever you wish to be round you goes to be attention-grabbing anyway.”
Leonard has performed in 63 video games this season. He’s averaging 23.8 factors, six rebounds and three.6 assists per sport, taking pictures 52.7% from the ground and 42.4% from three-point vary. As anticipated, he is among the many higher wing defenders within the NBA.
With Leonard absolutely wholesome and Paul George making an impression, the Clippers are among the many front-runners to contend for the NBA championship. Batum’s departure definitely damage the Clippers’ depth. Nonetheless, it gave them one other future Corridor of Fame expertise to lean on. They’d make that deal 10 out of 10 instances.
It would not matter which member of Los Angeles’ roster has spurred on their robust season. All that issues is that their present manufacturing continues into the playoffs.
