Batum Considering Spurs Among His Options

[Duncan2177]

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bgFzK?u...-antonio-spurs

Portland forward Nicolas Batum is interested in considering playing for the Spurs next season, among all of his options if he leaves the Trail Blazers.

Batum told the French-language basketball website Basketsession.com (Hat Tip: Project Spurs.com) that he is considering a wealth of opportunities should he leave Portland.

“San Antonio is an option for me,” Batum told BasketSession. “There are 30 teams in the NBA so I’ll watch and see what can be the best. But San Antonio is clear that it could be something pretty. I do not want to leave Portland, but I’ll watch what is best for me.

“If I can not find a better situation, I’ll stay in Portland but if I find better place elsewhere, I would go. The market will open on July 1, so I really have time to take my time to watch all this. I have 10 teams in mind, but I’ll see.”

Obviously Batum would be a natural to join his teammates with the French National team Tony Parker and Boris Diaw with the Spurs. He posted career-best averages of 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds during the 2011-12 season with Portland, where he was known for his athleticism and his defense.

But he’s likely to command a big contract. The Spurs are already deep at small forward, although Batum, who turns 24 in December, would give them a talented young player to help continue to turn the roster over.

It will be interesting to see if Batum really would consider coming to San Antonio.

[elemento]

He may consider San Antonio but our cap space situation says no thanks.

[timvp]

The Spurs' only hope is if Batum signs the one-year qualifying offer with Portland this summer and then signs with the Spurs as a UFA in '13.

[roycrikside]

why would they possibly be interested? They've got Leonard and Green who are both cheaper and better.

[benefactor]

blecherreprt

[freetiago]

were deep at SG/SF now but in 2/3 years we wont be
we all know ginobili is made of glass and is likely to probably miss half of every season from rest/injuries from now on
danny might leave the team this year
gary might leave next year
and james will leave this year

it still would be overload to have him for 1 year but it would be good for the longterm
ive heard hes gonna get paid though so its not like it matters
would like to see him come here just so we could give the finger to portland again

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

this again? cant happen till 2013.

[Splitman4evah]

All we gotta do is sign Noah and Beaubois and we have the French national team....

[Seventyniner]

Only if he'll take the MLE and Portland doesn't match. In other words, impossible.

[100%duncan]

blecherreprt

[Bruno]

This quote comes from a TV show where Batum was invited:
http://video.lequipe.fr/video/basket...g=44e7314565fs

Batum only brings Spurs name because the journalist ask him specifically about them. Batum was then quite noncommittal by saying he would look at his option and Spurs would be an interesting one. This article sounds like Batum is letting Spurs know he would like to join them but it isn't the case at all.

I'm also not sure Batum deserves to get the $8M or $10M per year he should receive this summer. If Spurs really want to add a french SF, I would rather give Charles Kahudi a try for the minmimum salary. He isn't a good player but he has a true upside as a role player. Bringing back Gelabale or Diawara to the NBA could be worth the try too.

[Seventyniner]

[gnsf]What about a sign-and-trade for Jax?[/gnsf]

[benefactor]

[gnsf]What about a sign-and-trade for Jax?[/gnsf]

I've been waiting that post too.

[100%duncan]

[gnsf]What about a sign-and-trade for Jax?[/gnsf]

Funny that you mentioned that...

[Paranoid Pop]

I'm also not sure Batum deserves to get the $8M or $10M per year he should receive this summer. If Spurs really want to add a french SF, I would rather give Charles Kahudi a try for the minmimum salary. He isn't a good player but he has a true upside as a role player. Bringing back Gelabale or Diawara to the NBA could be worth the try too.

Great points but what about Green? Don't you think he may get close to 8M this summer? If I understood correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong) Green is restricted but there's no limit to the offers he can get unlike Lin, right?

If there's a position worth doubling with a good to very good player it's SG given Manu's health.

[DMC]

Interesting in considering? That's just North of unaware.

[DJB]

If this was 6 months ago, I'd be excited.

Jax/Leonard > Batum

[benefactor]

Great points but what about Green? Don't you think he may get close to 8M this summer?

[Hooks]

Not happening, the Spurs roster will most likely be the exact same as this years. The only player that might not get resigned is Diaw and that'd be to bring in lorbek.

[Bruno]

Great points but what about Green? Don't you think he may get close to 8M this summer? If I understood correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong) Green is restricted but there's no limit to the offers he can get unlike Lin, right?

If there's a position worth doubling with a good to very good player it's SG given Manu's health.

Yeah, Green isn't in the same case as Lin. He has been in the NBA for three year and doesn't apply for the Gilbert Arenas rule.

Spurs max offer for Green is a 4 years contract starting around $5.1M with a 7.5% yearly raise. That is to say a $22.7M/4 years contract. If a team offers Green less than that (a full MLE contract is less than that), Spurs will be able to match it. If a team offers Green more than that, Spurs are screwed and won't be able to match it.

Green isn't in fact a fully restricted free agent. If a team with cap space wants him and is ready to give him more than a $5.1M starting salary, Spurs will have nothign to say and will assist powerless to Green leaving them.

[mkurts]

The way he's playing with Portland ? No thanks

He'd be a good fit with the Bobcats though.

[tesseractive]

Yeah, Green isn't in the same case as Lin. He has been in the NBA for three year and doesn't apply for the Gilbert Arenas rule.

Spurs max offer for Green is a 4 years contract starting around $5.1M with a 7.5% yearly raise. That is to say a $22.7M/4 years contract. If a team offers Green less than that (a full MLE contract is less than that), Spurs will be able to match it. If a team offers Green more than that, Spurs are screwed and won't be able to match it.

Green isn't in fact a fully restricted free agent. If a team with cap space wants him and is ready to give him more than a $5.1M starting salary, Spurs will have nothign to say and will assist powerless to Green leaving them.

I really like Danny Green, but would anyone really offer more than $5.1 million for a guard who's an indifferent ball handler at best and can't create his own shot?

[Bruno]

I really like Danny Green, but would anyone really offer more than $5.1 million for a guard who's an indifferent ball handler at best and can't create his own shot?

Well, I was more stating the CBA rules than evaluating Danny Green market value. To answers at your question, I don't really know how much money NBA teams will give to Green this summer. He isn't an easy player to evaluate.

[Seventyniner]

Well, I was more stating the CBA rules than evaluating Danny Green market value. To answers at your question, I don't really know how much money NBA teams will give to Green this summer. He isn't an easy player to evaluate.

Unfortunately, it only takes one team to overpay a guy.

[spursfan1000]

All we gotta do is sign Noah and Beaubois and we have the French national team....

[urunobili]

Only if Green leaves TBH

[DesignatedT]

S&T Green and Jack for Batum.

[jestersmash]

Per Hollinger May 9 -

John Hollinger ‏ @johnhollinger
Not sure where this Batum-Spurs nonsense comes from. They'd have to either not re-sign Duncan or amnesty Manu. Not happening.

Not saying I agree with him (I really don't know how to best assess trade rumours), but just thought I'd throw it out there.

[jestersmash]

S&T Green and Jack for Batum.

13337 posts (don't ruin it by replying to this message )

[DesignatedT]

Fine. Neal and Jack.