Is Batum a good target and worth it?

[analyzed]

With 1 day left to offer an extension to avoid players from being restricted free agents, It looks like Batum of the Blazers won't be given an extension

"The agent for Portland forward Nicolas Batum, Bouna Ndiaye, was meeting again Tuesday with Blazers officials, but the likelihood of a breakthrough seemed to be waning. The Blazers also want to re-sign forward Gerald Wallace next summer, and it may be difficult for Portland to keep both small forwards."

Given the situation and the Spurs unloading some contracts (Timmy and RJ) would Batum , be a good Free agent to chase. If so how much would you pay this guy. I see offer going at $ 30 M for 3 years minimum, is he worth that? I know he's not actually a big. But playing him alongside Splitter and Leonard in the frontline is intriguing outlook for the future. Plus we all know fellow county man TP loves playing with this guy. With the way Tony has been dishing lately the chemistry might just be right . what do you guys think?

[elemento]

I like him and he fits perfectly here, but he is not worth 10m/year. With the arrival of Leonard I don't think we should sign him paying this kind of money to be honest. It would make a lot of sense 2 years ago, not now.

[DJ Mbenga]

he will be restricted. they will match anything

[TDMVPDPOY]

another trevor ariza waiting to happen no.1 option carry a team...no

[spurspokesman]

With 1 day left to offer an extension to avoid players from being restricted free agents, It looks like Batum of the Blazers won't be given an extension

"The agent for Portland forward Nicolas Batum, Bouna Ndiaye, was meeting again Tuesday with Blazers officials, but the likelihood of a breakthrough seemed to be waning. The Blazers also want to re-sign forward Gerald Wallace next summer, and it may be difficult for Portland to keep both small forwards."

Given the situation and the Spurs unloading some contracts (Timmy and RJ) would Batum , be a good Free agent to chase. If so how much would you pay this guy. I see offer going at $ 30 M for 3 years minimum, is he worth that? I know he's not actually a big. But playing him alongside Splitter and Leonard in the frontline is intriguing outlook for the future. Plus we all know fellow county man TP loves playing with this guy. With the way Tony has been dishing lately the chemistry might just be right . what do you guys think?
This makes perfect sense before we signed RJ. But now RJ is here and gobbling up lots of cash stalling the growth of the franchise. This type of thing can drive one to drinking. RJs pay far exceeds his production.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

This makes perfect sense before we signed RJ. But now RJ is here and gobbling up lots of cash stalling the growth of the franchise. This type of thing can drive one to drinking. RJs pay far exceeds his production.

RJ will be amnestied though.

Still, the price needed to get Batum would be far too much and unless the FO sees him as a potential PF in the future I don't think they'd go after him now that Leonard is here. IMO he's not going to be a good PF even though there are some similarities to Josh Smith.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dunno how much money we have, but i prefer we should try steal d12 with the available cap space...

[Paranoid Pop]

I think he wants to leave Portland for more playing time, if Jefferson leaves, he could be a starter here. He may accept a bit less money to sign with the Spurs who knows.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

dunno how much money we have, but i prefer we should try steal d12 with the available cap space...

Yup... and after that we should try RJ + Bonner for LeBron and we'll be set.

[analyzed]

he will be restricted. they will match anything

I doubt the blazers will be willing pay too much (match) for someone who hardly get's PT and their love for Gerald Wallace who they have to pay as well to keep him

[therealtruth]

Some team will overpay for him.

[NickiRasgo]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/10/20/tp-wants-spurs-to-finally-pick-up-old-friend-nicolas-batum/

[5in10]

I would like to make a run at Brook Lopez and Darell Arthur.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

French Jefferson. Honest to God, Danny Green is a better wing option. The complaints that everyone here has about Jefferson (won't drive, passes up shots) are the complaints that Portland's staff has with Nic. He's just passive, and wants a ton of money to be that way on the court. Being here won't fix him either. It's a personality trait. You can't suddenly make him aggressive, Manu style, with a change of environment. Some players never reach their talent potential, and it's frequently the passive ones.

[maddnezz]

Who cares, we need another big and you dudes keep going back to the same old b.s. Scola, Mahimi, Batum.......it's like an ex girlfriend gave you the clap and you keep going back for some more. Move foward on real threads plz.:king

[acoelho1]

I think he is a stud and at 23, will only get better under the Spurs system. The question is how do we get him in a Spurs uniform. Through trade or sign him to a large extension in the office season and I don't believe Portland would match. We also have to think about bringing in another solid big, which should probably be our top priority in the off season.

[yavozerb]

Who cares, we need another big and you dudes keep going back to the same old b.s. Scola, Mahimi, Batum.......it's like an ex girlfriend gave you the clap and you keep going back for some more. Move foward on real threads plz.:king

Good quality bigs are very hard to come by in FA..Name some bigs you think the spurs have a chance to get this offseason and maybe we will talk about it..I would love for the spurs to go after Batum but for them to have a chance at signing him, they will will have to overpay for him. Blazers I believe will match anything in the ballpark..

[5in10]

Good quality bigs are very hard to come by in FA..Name some bigs you think the spurs have a chance to get this offseason and maybe we will talk about it..I would love for the spurs to go after Batum but for them to have a chance at signing him, they will will have to overpay for him. Blazers I believe will match anything in the ballpark..

Garnett(not that I want him)
Diaw
Roy Hibbert
Bynum
Darrell Arthur
Kaman
Brook Lopez
Javale Mgee
Kevin Love(may sign extension)

A lot of these guys are restricted but then again so is Batum.

[mercos]

The emergence of Leonard has solidified us at small forward. We have enough wing players, we need to sign some backup post players.

[DesignatedT]

Bad move by Portland. Rather keep Batum then Wallace

[Leetonidas]

I would rather the Spurs make a run at Hibbert in the offseason. Batum is already as good as he's going to get most likely while Leonard will end up being better and more versatile. Batum would've been great since Bowen left but now that we have Kawahi Rodman, Batum is no longer needed.

[elemento]

Gallo just got a 42m/4y deal. I just wonder how much Batum will get.

I think Gallo has more value than Batum btw.

[jjktkk]

Can Batum play the 2? Wouldn't want to bring in a guy like that, who could potentially retard Leonard's development. Would rather the Spurs go after a big.

[therealtruth]

Bad move by Portland. Rather keep Batum then Wallace

Batum is a poor man's version of Wallace.

[Leetonidas]

Gallo just got a 42m/4y deal. I just wonder how much Batum will get.

I think Gallo has more value than Batum btw.

Gallo is a legit scoring threat though with a lot of size and skill for that size and he can create his own shot and handle the rock. Batum on the other hand is not a legit scoring option who cannot create his own shots. His defense is better but that is not valued as much in the NBA. Still I'd rather have Gallinari than Batum anyday

[SenorSpur]

I would rather the Spurs make a run at Hibbert in the offseason. Batum is already as good as he's going to get most likely while Leonard will end up being better and more versatile. Batum would've been great since Bowen left but now that we have Kawahi Rodman, Batum is no longer needed.

Highly doubtful. Hibbert is on record that he has no place of leaving Indiana. He says he loves it there.

[Leetonidas]

A man can dream :lol

What sucks is with Duncan coming off and the Spurs using the amnesty on RJ, that would free up 30+ million dollars and (correct me if I'm wrong Bruno) allow us to offer a max contract. But we need a big man and outside of Hibbert and Howard (who we have 0% chance at), there are no game changers out there :depressed

[Leetonidas]

Unfortunately Brook Lopez may be more realistic :depressed

[Robz4000]

Brook Lopez would be a solid pick-up. Yeah he's a stat stuffer on a bad team, but put next to Tim/Splitter he would be just as productive.

[DesignatedT]

Batum is a poor man's version of Wallace.

Batum has better upside. Wallace is 30, Batum is 23.

[acoelho1]

I think people are underestimating Batum's talent. He is a solid player and at only 23, has not reached his full potential. However, it's not likely we could get him so the point is mute.

[tmtcsc]

Batum has a fatal flaw. He's inconsistent and much to passive offensively. We got enough of that from his position. He's an 6-7 mil a year player. Anything above that is a waist.

[stephen jackson]

4 years to late.

[MattBonnerExperience]

We don't really need batum, after this year hopefully we can start rebuilding. I'm sure batum wants to win not be a stat stuffer with us for 3 years. Now trading for him this year would be great for the last push. But that's a pipe dream also

[yavozerb]

4 years to late.

:lol, he still just 23....

[TD 21]

He is not a good target. And given that it would take a ridiculous offer to pry him loose -- seeing as how the Trail Blazers have pretended he's a star in the making since they drafted him -- he is not worth it. He's a decent and still intriguing player, but he's not nearly the defender he's reported to be and is merely an ancillary scorer.

Leonard has a higher upside and Green has shown himself to be a decent backup. The Spurs shouldn't waste a cent on the small forward position, unless they end up trading Anderson and need a depth guy (I'm presuming Jefferson will be amnestied, of course). Even that, they may have somewhat in house, depending on how Butler progresses with the Toros.

[therealtruth]

He is not a good target. And given that it would take a ridiculous offer to pry him loose -- seeing as how the Trail Blazers have pretended he's a star in the making since they drafted him -- he is not worth it. He's a decent and still intriguing player, but he's not nearly the defender he's reported to be and is merely an ancillary scorer.

Leonard has a higher upside and Green has shown himself to be a decent backup. The Spurs shouldn't waste a cent on the small forward position, unless they end up trading Anderson and need a depth guy (I'm presuming Jefferson will be amnestied, of course). Even that, they may have somewhat in house, depending on how Butler progresses with the Toros.

I agree the small forward position isn't a position they need to overspend on if you're not getting a superstar. The most important thing a sf could have is defense and the ablity to knock down 3's.

[mystargtr34]

Gallo for 4/$42M is a great deal for Denver imo.

[jjktkk]

Gallo for 4/$42M is a great deal for Denver imo.

Agree. Gallo has the ability to play both f positions. Matchup nightmare. Young guy has a chance to be pretty damn good.

[acoelho1]

I never understood why the Knicks made that trade. It's not like they needed offense.