CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Nic Batum from the Los Angeles Clippers in the big James Harden deal, and the veteran is expected to give the Sixers a boost to the bench unit.
Batum is a career 10.7 points per game scorer and a career 36.5% shooter from deep. He is in his 16th season in the league, and he can fit in seamlessly with almost any group he is with.
Before Batum left the team to deal with personal issues, the veteran discussed how he can fit in with the Sixers.
“It’s a great group,” he said. “Got great players, got the MVP as well. We are four great players. Me and the three other guys so it’s gonna be pretty easy to fit in. We got a great coaching staff, we know Nick Nurse has had great success in the past. This team has had great success. It will be pretty easy.”
That MVP, of course, is Joel Embiid who has a good relationship with Batum. The two will play off each other, and Batum already understands how to play with star players. He did so with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
“When you play with a guy with that magnitude, that good,” Batum started. “I’ve played with guys like Kawhi and PG, when you play with like — they make the game so easy for you to play around because he’s so smart. So I just try to adjust myself to him. I will share the court with him sometimes so I just have to find out like where he likes the ball, when I can move with the ball, without the ball, and we’ll see what happens.”
Batum is back with the Sixers and is expected to be available to make his debut on Monday against the Washington Wizards. Does that mean Batum will play? Likely not; coach Nick Nurse would like to get him integrated fully.
[lawrence-related id=85926,85918,85915]