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Is Nicolas Batum opting out the likeliest way the Clippers retain him?

The Los Angeles Clippers feature a pretty big free agency decision this offseason in the form of veteran forward Nicolas Batum. Since signing with the Clippers just before the 2020-21 season after the Charlotte Hornets used the stretch provision on him, Batum has been a vital cog in the machine.

Last offseason, the Clippers were able to bring Batum back on a non-Bird deal that allowed them to retain their taxpayer Mid-Level Exception ($5.9 million), which they then split on several players, including Justise Winslow whom they later packaged alongside Eric Bledsoe and Keon Johnson to Portland for Robert Covington and Norman Powell.