The Philadelphia 76ers have been mediocre since their red-hot start to the season, but no one can consider them a huge disappointment at this early point. With the season so young, that branding can only be attributed to those currently touting absolutely meager records compared to their respective pre-season billings.
One of those teams that has disappointed mightily early on is the LA Clippers. Despite having one of the most talented and experienced groups in the league, they have only been able to compile a paltry 5-13 win-loss record, which is only good for 12th in the stacked Western Conference. However, that could be to the 76ers’ advantage, especially in relation to Nicolas Batum.
The always reliable Batum re-signed with the Clippers last summer to the tune of a two-year contract. Despite his lack of flashy stats, he remains one of their most stable players, and he always performs better when the games matter most in the playoffs.
That said, the 76ers may have the perfect recipe to pursue a reunion with the veteran through a trade.
76ers could reunite with Nicolas Batum as the Clippers continue to struggle
The West has become too deadly for the Clippers to keep up with if their fight continuestheir front office could certainly consider holding a fire sale to liquidate their veteran assets like Batum.
The 76ers, who already enjoyed the Frenchman’s services during the 2023/24 season, remain one of the most sensible options for Batum. Despite being almost 37 years old, he is still a very serviceable role player who can function in a litany of ways. He is a very accurate marksman, albeit at low volume, but is also an intoxicating connecting passer. More importantly, he’s still a competent, multi-positional defender who has both the length and smarts to be quietly disruptive.
Someone like Batum would certainly be a huge boost for the 76ers. With the team still reeling from the untimely injuries to Kelly Oubre and Trendon Watford, as well as the frequent absences of Paul George, they certainly need a stabilizer at the striker position.
To make Batum an even more attractive commodity, he has a very modest contract that runs through next season, giving potential buyers for his services some semblance of cheap roster control.
Nicolas Batum is still a very good rotation piece, so the 76ers better hope the Clippers continue their freefall so the stars align even better.
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