Clippers exercise – The Clippers have exercised Brook Lopez’s $9.19MM option for 2026/27 while passing on Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $16.02MM option and Nicolas Batum’s $5.88MM option. Lopez remains under club control as the team keeps a key rotation piece, while the two veterans head i
By Monday’s deadline, the Clippers have made their last three remaining option decisions—first one they held onto, then two they let go.
Brook Lopez’s option for 2026/27 is being exercised, with the value listed at $9.19MM. The intent inside the club is to keep Lopez. who joined the Clippers as a free agent last summer and ended up as a rotation regular throughout the season. His role expanded after a mid-season trade sent Ivica Zubac out of the picture, and Lopez became a full-time starter.
Even as he has moved past the peak of his career, Lopez still produced. In his 18th NBA season, he averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game. From deep, he hit 36.0% of his three-point attempts.
Then came the two names the Clippers decided not to protect. L.A. opted out of picking up Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $16.02MM option and Nicolas Batum’s $5.88MM option. That means both veterans will become unrestricted free agents.
Bogdanovic’s season ended up being the roughest of his career. shaped by health issues that limited him to 23 games. including three starts. His production dipped to 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per contest. He shot 38.8% from the field and 34.7% on three-pointers—both below what he’s been able to do in the past.
Interest around Bogdanovic now stretches beyond the NBA. Teams overseas have reportedly been linked to him, and the Nuggets are also believed to be watching him as a potential free agent target.
Batum’s numbers were steadier in minutes, but his scoring contribution was smaller. In 2025/26, he averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for the Clippers. He still logged 17.5 MPG across 74 outings and made 40.4% of his three-point shots. Batum will turn 38 later this year. and it’s unclear whether he plans to continue his playing career or consider retirement this summer.
The options decision leaves the Clippers with a clear direction: they’re keeping Lopez in place while creating free-agent flexibility by letting Bogdanovic and Batum leave on the market.
Los Angeles Clippers Brook Lopez Bogdan Bogdanovic Nicolas Batum 2026/27 option unrestricted free agency Ivica Zubac deadline
So they keep Lopez and let the other guys walk? Seems like an easy choice to me.
I don’t get why they’d skip Bogdanovic, dude was still playing and 16 mil isn’t crazy?? Maybe he got hurt too much or something but the article makes it sound like a surprise.
Wait, Zubac was “sent out of the picture” so Lopez just became the starter? That sounds like a good move honestly, but 8.5 points a game… I mean, is that really enough to build around? Feels like they’re settling.
Batum getting skipped makes me think they’re trying to tank again lol. And Bogdanovic to the Nuggets?? I swear I saw somewhere he was already done in the NBA, like overseas teams been waiting. Clippers just picking and choosing options like it’s a menu, not a plan.