In a busy two days for the Los Angeles Clippers, the organization announced the re-signing of James Harden and Nicolas Batum while also introducing two new players.
Harden, who was acquired by the Clippers in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers last year, officially signed a new two-year contract on Tuesday. The deal is reportedly worth $70 million, The Athletic NBA Insider Shams Charania said.
In a statement, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank praised the 15-year NBA veteran and Los Angeles native for living up to the hype during his first season in L.A.
“James was everything we hoped he would be when we acquired him from Philadelphia last season: a proven scorer, gifted passer and natural facilitator who protects the ball and makes the game easier for others,” Frank said. “James cares about his craft and works tirelessly at it. We were better for his presence last year and we will be again.”
Nicolas Batum was part of the trade that brought Harden to L.A. He spent just one season in Philly before returning to the City of Angels; according to the NBA transaction log, he also re-signed on Tuesday.
The 6-foot, 8-inch Frenchman previously played for the Clippers from 2020-2023; before his first stint in Los Angeles, he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets. According to initial reports from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Batum’s deal is worth $9.6 million over two years.
When talking about Batum, Frank emphasized the importance of bringing back a “connector” with a high basketball IQ who already knows the team culture.
“It’s hard to find a better connector with a higher IQ than Nico,” he said. “We didn’t want to lose him last year and we felt his absence…We’re thrilled to welcome back the battalion.”
In addition to Harden and Batum, two fresh faces will be on the roster for the upcoming season: Derrick Jones, Jr. (formerly of the Dallas Mavericks) and Kevin Porter, Jr. (formerly of the Houston Rockets), both of whom signed their contracts on Wednesday.
Jones, Jr., who played with the Mavericks against the Clippers in the first round of the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs, is an athletic forward who can change the game with his length and activity, according to Frank.
“Derrick is an incredible athlete and a versatile defender who excels in transition and attacks the rim,” he said. “As we experienced firsthand in the playoffs against Dallas, he can change a game with his length and activity…we are going to have a tenacious defense this season, and DJJ will be a huge part of it.”
His contract is believed to be worth $30 million over three years.
The fourth signing of the two-day period was Kevin Porter, Jr., a graduate of the University of Southern California.
Drafted in 2019 by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night, Porter, Jr. played his rookie season in Cleveland before being suspended due to an off-season weapons charge that was later dropped, ESPN said; the ordeal caused him to not play a single game for the Cavs that season.
He was eventually traded to the Rockets after an altercation in the Cavaliers’ locker room and spent two relatively tumultuous seasons there before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who eventually released him after it was revealed he assaulted his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
He reached a plea deal with a New York City court in January that kept him out of jail and required him to complete a court-ordered treatment program, according to the Associated Press.
The 23-year-old spent part of last season playing for PAOK in Greece, where he averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and nearly three steals per game. His two-year veteran minimum contract includes a player option, Charania reported.
Also signed to the Clippers last week is center Mo Bamba, who last played for the 76ers and is known for being the subject of the viral Sheck Wes song “Mo Bamba.”
In addition, the Clippers’ only draft pick this year, Cam Christie, signed his rookie contract on July 5, the NBA transaction log indicates.
The 2024-2025 season will be the Clippers’ first with their new logo and jerseys, not to mention the first season in the new Intuit Dome.
