Clippers bring back Nicolas Batum on two-year deal

Nicolas Batum had envisioned himself retiring in a Clippers jersey. The team had taken a chance on the veteran Frenchman after a rocky stint with the Charlotte Hornets and he was grateful. He didn’t think about leaving.

But it happened.

Batum, 35, was shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers this past season as part of the late-night trade that brought James Harden to the Clippers at the end of October, finding out at the next day’s shootaround.

Now, the free-agent forward could finish his career with the Clippers after reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $9.6 million deal Monday to rejoin the team. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.

The news was celebrated on X (formerly Twitter) by Lily Batum, his wife, who reposted the announcement with “HE’S BACK!”

Batum’s loyalty to the Clippers stemmed from their desire to give him another chance after being waived by the Hornets. Disillusioned, Batum had considered retiring. Then the Clippers called.

“I mean they told me that when they were recruiting (that I would have a significant role), but I didn’t really believe it because in my mind I was like, ‘OK, I’m done. I suck, whatever,’” Batum said earlier this year. “But I mean, yeah, (Coach Tyronn Lue) said we’re going to use you and you’re going to play for me. And he did.”

Batum averaged 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 57 games (38 starts) last season with the Sixers.