Paris (AFP)
Charlotte Hornets winger Nicolas Batum was released from his final year of contract by the North Carolina franchise, who decided to sign American Gordon Hayward for a four-year contract, US media reported on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Frenchman (2.06m) is now in the transfer market and is looking for a franchise for the 2020/21 season.
His last season with Charlotte was very complicated for Batum, bronze medalist of the last World Cup-2019 with the Blues: he played only 22 matches, for an average of 3.6 points per game, far from his best seasons with Portland (14.3 points in 2012/13) or with Charlotte (15.1 points in 2016/17).
According to ESPN, the Hornets have decided to leave Batum a free agent, and Charlotte's Observer claims that Batum's $ 27 million last season will be paid out by the franchise over three years.
This allows the Hornets to reduce their payroll to recruit Gordon Hayward (30, 2.01m) from the Boston Celtics, who is committed for the next four seasons and a contract of $ 120 million according to ESPN.
He will play alongside point guard LaMello Ball (19, 2.03m), who was drafted Wednesday night in 3rd position by the Hornets.
Batum arrived in the NBA in 2008, drafted by the Houston Rockets in 25th place, then transferred immediately to Portland.
The native of Lisieux spent seven seasons from 2008 to 2015 with the Trail Blazers, before joining the Hornets.
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