Open Extended ReactionsLA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season to become a free agent, sources told ESPN on Saturday. There is mutual interest between the NBA veteran and the Clippers in a new deal together, sources said. Now heading into his 18th year in the NBA, Batum has said there is a "very, very good chance" that this upcoming season will be his last. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said ahead of the offseason that the team "1,000%" hopes Batum returns in 2025-26. Batum has spent most of the past five seasons with the Clippers after long stints with the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets.