Nicholas Batum is more than a $25.5 million contract the Hornets would like to dump — although he is that, too — he is a veteran NBA player the Hornets are bringing off the bench this season.
Just not for the next month or so.
Reports came out during the Hornets’ win over Chicago that Batum had broken his finger, and on Thursday Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports confirmed that.
Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum has suffered a broken middle finger in his hand, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 24, 2019
Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum fractured the middle finger on his left hand last night against Chicago and is expected to be sidelined 3 to 4 weeks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 24, 2019
Batum played 11 minutes against Chicago, didn’t take one shot but did grab four rebounds. Batum is coming off the bench, despite the massive payday, because Charlotte is rebuilding and going with a youth movement. With Batum out, expect for more minutes for Malik Monk and P.J. Washington.
Charlotte has looked to trade Batum for the past year, trying to attach his contract to other players or picks teas wanted, but to no avail. The challenge is not just the $25.5 million for this season, but the $27.1 million Batum will make next season (a player option, but there is little doubt he picks that up).