Nicolas Batum Wants To Talk To Hornets ‘First’ When NBA Free Agency Begins

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The Charlotte Hornets took one step in the right direction during the 2015-16 NBA season with the once-lowly franchise starting to show signs of a promising future. All the pieces began to come together with Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lin, Al Jefferson and Nicolas Batum all on the same page.

Although the Hornets appear to be headed in the right direction, Charlotte will have a difficult offseason ahead. The team has only seven players under contract for next season and four of their starters set to hit the free-agent market.

Fortunately, unlike in years past, the Hornets have players that want to re-sign with the team. Batum, arguably their best player set to become an unrestricted free agent, would like to talk to the Hornets brass first come July 1, via ESPN:

“I want to talk to (the Hornets) first, for sure,” Batum said of free agency. “July 1 will be a crazy day, but will Charlotte be my first call? Yes.”

Batum had the best season of his career during the 2015-16 campaign and will look to capitalize on his new-found success. Although Batum has had injury issues throughout his eight-year career in the league with only one season having played all 82 games, the veteran forward has proven his worth and will be a hot commodity once officially an unrestricted free agent in July.

In 70 games for the Hornets, Batum averaged a career-high 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.

Along with Batum, Courtney Lee, Marvin Williams and Jefferson will also be unrestricted free agents this summer. Jeremy Lin will likely opt out of his contract as well with the veteran guard set for pay raise after an impressive first season in Charlotte.