Player the Warriors should’ve targeted: Nicolas Batum
Nicolas Batum is coming off an impressive stint with the French national team at the Toyko Olympics. Batum re-signed with the Clippers, but he should be a player the Warriors wish they had a chance to bring in.
For the bulk of his career, Batum has been able to be a large part of his team’s offense due to his high IQ and shooting ability.
Batum, as a small forward, is part of a select few that have averaged over 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds for multiple seasons in a career. While that list is relatively long, Batum is in it. He’s not overly quick, but his IQ is where he picks up favor with coaches.
This past season, he averaged just 2.2 assists per game, transitioning into more of a backup role as a creator. However, he shot over 40 percent from deep and was a steady ironman, playing almost 70 games and starting more than 30.
His shooting and his IQ would’ve been ideal for the Warriors’ second unit. It was a signing they truly needed to make to fill a hard-to-find role on their bench.