3 players who may not return to the LA Clippers roster for the 2021-22 season

#2 Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson was one of the stars of the playoffs for the LA Clippers

Reggie Jackson was one of the superstars of the postseason for the LA Clippers and, in doing so, has probably priced himself out of their budget. As previously mentioned, the franchise has serious cap space headaches going into the offseason and likely won't be able to afford the kind of contract the 31-year-old could receive elsewhere.

REGGIE JACKSON drops the HAMMER early in Game 5 on ESPN! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4DpHMeK8u6

— NBA (@NBA) June 29, 2021

With Leonard injured, Jackson stepped up and surprised the Clippers fanbase. In their conference Finals series against the Phoenix Suns, he averaged over 20 points a game and shot 45% from the floor. Over the entirety of the postseason, he finished with a +/- of 5.6 and had one of the best shooting splits of any player at 48-40-87.

Since the LA Clippers do have their mid-level exception to spend, they could be able to afford Jackson if he doesn't receive a deal north of $8-10m a year. However, there are plenty of teams who could benefit from an additional high-volume scorer and from somebody who can create his own shots. Those teams also have a lot more cap space to splurge on players than the Clippers do.

#3 Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum has increased his trade value while with the LA Clippers

Nicolas Batum was yet another player who improved under Ty Lue's coaching and performed above what was expected of him. There was some skepticism about the Frenchman being brought into the franchise. But over the course of the season, Batum proved his doubters wrong and was a valuable piece in the LA Clippers' success.

Thx to all the #ClipperNation for the support. Thx to the organization, the fans and my teammates for believing in me. Thank you for welcoming me and my family as one of your own since day one. Nothing can be taken for granted in life. The journey continues, next stop: Tokyo! pic.twitter.com/Z9CexahJrX

— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) July 1, 2021

The 32-year-old has rekindled his value after an efficient year on both ends of the court for the LA Clippers. He is a switchable, corner-three specialist who can defend at the rim if need be and was crucial in the Clippers' small-ball lineup during the playoffs.

His efficiency continued into the postseason, where he grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game, 1.4 steals, and 8.1 points while shooting at 48% from the field. Although he was only on a $2.5m-a-year contract, Batum has significantly increased his worth. And due to his skill set, he is a very desirable commodity in the current NBA format as a stretch two-way wing player.