After attempts to find a trade to alleviate their cap burden, the Charlotte Hornets were unsuccessful and will waive forward Nicolas Batum, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. According to recent reports, the team is also expected to use the stretch provision on Batum.
The stretch provision takes the current length of a player’s contract, doubles it and adds one year and then spreads the remaining money over that span. With Batum due $27,130,435 on the final year of his deal, that equals $9,043,478.33 per year on the Hornets salary cap sheet for the next three years.
Batum spent five seasons in Charlotte, the most recent being the worst season of his career. In 22 games, he averaged just 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and shot 34.6% from the field and 28.6% from the arc. Over the course of his time with the franchise, Batum averaged 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and shot 41.9% from the field and 34.8% from range.
The team was forced to waive Batum to make way for new signing Gordon Hayward, who will be joining Charlotte on a four-year, $120 million contract.
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